Israeli forces continued strikes across southern Lebanon overnight and into Sunday as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Air Force activated air defenses to intercept aerial targets launched from Lebanese territory. The IDF confirmed that two suspicious aerial targets were intercepted after alerts for suspected hostile aircraft infiltration in northern Israel. Several impacts from these targets were also identified near the border with Lebanon.
"The Air Force intercepted two suspicious aerial targets that were launched from Lebanese territory toward Israeli territory," the IDF stated. "In addition, several impacts of suspicious aerial targets were identified in the area of the border with Lebanon. The details are under review." The IDF also emphasized the gravity of such incidents, stating, "The IDF strongly condemns their crossing and emphasizes that this is a serious incident, a criminal offense that endangers IDF forces."
Cross-Border Incidents Intensify
Sirens were activated in Yiftah and Ramot Naftali in northern Israel, according to reports. Earlier on Saturday, sirens had sounded across northern Israel, extending from Metula to Rosh Hanikra. Reports indicated a suspicious aerial target fell near Kibbutz Adamit in the Western Galilee, while an explosive drone detonated at the Rosh Hanikra tourist site. On Friday night, a siren warning of a possible drone infiltration was heard in Misgav Am. This was followed three minutes later by another siren in Margaliot, after which explosive drones detonated near the border, inside Israeli territory.
IDF Operations and Warnings
IDF Arabic-language spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee issued evacuation warnings on Saturday for the villages of al-Mahmoudiya, Mlekh, Sabil, al-Qatrani, and Houmine al-Fawqa in southern Lebanon. These warnings followed similar advisories issued on Friday, which preceded Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah buildings. Early Friday morning, IDF observation forces identified two armed terrorists several hundred meters from the Israeli border in southern Lebanon. An airstrike subsequently attacked and killed the identified gunmen. Separately, the IDF operated on Saturday to facilitate the return of five Israeli citizens who had inadvertently crossed the border into Lebanese territory. "The IDF strongly condemns their crossing and emphasizes that this is a serious incident, a criminal offense that endangers IDF forces," the IDF stated regarding the border crossing.
Sunday's Casualties and IDF Response
Overnight, Israeli forces conducted strikes targeting the towns of al-Qatrani, Byblos, and Rihan within the Jezzine district of southern Lebanon. Further attacks were reported in the Tyre district, where Deir Kifa, Barashit, and Chaqra were hit. Operations also extended to Srifa in Tyre and Dweir, located near Nabatieh, north of the Litani River. On Sunday, two individuals sustained injuries when what authorities described as an "anti-government" drone struck Shahabiyeh. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that some alerts issued on Saturday were triggered by the false identification of suspicious aerial targets. The IDF confirmed that its Air Force intercepted two suspicious aerial targets originating from Lebanese territory, with additional impacts identified near the border. "The Air Force intercepted two suspicious aerial targets that were launched from Lebanese territory toward Israeli territory," the IDF stated, adding, "In addition, several impacts of suspicious aerial targets were identified in the area of the border with Lebanon. The details are under review."
