IDF strikes Hezbollah targets in Southern Lebanon

**IDF Strikes Hezbollah Targets in Southern Lebanon After Drone Attack**

**Jerusalem, Israel –** The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out a series of strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon on Sunday night (March 24, 2024) in response to an explosive drone attack on Israeli troops stationed in the border security zone. The IDF said the drones were launched from the Lebanese side and were intercepted by Israeli forces, with no Israeli casualties reported.

### Drone attack and IDF response

According to the IDF, two suicide drones were fired toward soldiers operating near the Ali al‑Taher Ridge, a strategic high‑ground area in the security zone. Israeli troops downed one of the drones; the other was destroyed by the IDF. The military described the incident as a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire agreement with Beirut.

In retaliation, the IDF struck several Hezbollah sites, including a weapons‑storage facility and a tunnel network near Kfar Reman, northeast of Nabatieh. The military also reported eliminating several Hezbollah operatives in the Nabatieh area. The IDF emphasized that it had taken steps to mitigate harm to civilians, using precise munitions and aerial surveillance, and that it was reviewing claims of civilian injuries.

### Statements from Israeli officials

Defense Minister Israel Katz said the IDF would not withdraw from the security zone until Hezbollah was disarmed throughout Lebanon. “The capture of Ali al‑Taher is an important step toward achieving this goal,” Katz told reporters. He added that the ridge had been a command‑and‑control center for Hezbollah attacks on Israeli troops and the Galilee region.

Katz also noted that the IDF’s 36th Armored Division had recently cleared two underground routes in the ridge, describing the network as a “strategic underground network built over two decades with Iranian funding and planning.” The IDF said the operation neutralized Hezbollah’s ability to launch attacks from those routes.

### Lebanese reaction

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called on the United States and the international community to intervene urgently after the Israeli strikes. He urged that the situation be addressed to prevent further escalation.

### Context

The security zone, controlled by Israeli forces, stretches along the Israeli‑Lebanese border from the Mediterranean Sea to the area north of Mount Hermon, extending roughly seven miles into Lebanon at its deepest points. The IDF maintains that it will continue to operate in the zone and respond to any Hezbollah attacks while remaining committed to the ceasefire agreement.

No Israeli soldiers were injured in the drone attack or the subsequent strikes, and the IDF has not reported any civilian casualties. The situation remains tense, with both sides citing violations of the ceasefire.

Article and image source: jns.org