Israeli military operations in Lebanon have intensified again, with fresh airstrikes and ground activity continuing despite a ceasefire that was meant to reduce hostilities between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah.
At least seven people were reported killed and several others injured in a series of Israeli airstrikes across southern Lebanon. At the same time, Israeli forces used heavy equipment to demolish sections of a Catholic convent in the border village of Yaroun, a move that has drawn sharp criticism and renewed controversy.
Church representatives strongly rejected Israel’s assertion that the site had been used for military purposes. According to religious authorities, the convent had already been vacated due to ongoing conflict and functioned as a peaceful compound that included a school and a clinic. They emphasised that such locations are dedicated to education, care and worship, not armed activity, directly disputing Israeli claims linking the site to Hezbollah operations.
The Israeli military, however, maintained that its actions were part of a broader campaign targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in the region. It stated that the structure lacked visible religious markings at the time of demolition and that operations were halted once its religious connection became known. Israel has consistently argued that Hezbollah embeds its assets within civilian areas, a claim frequently challenged by local and international observers.
Beyond Yaroun, violence continued across multiple locations in southern Lebanon. Airstrikes targeted vehicles and residential areas in several villages, resulting in additional casualties. In response, Hezbollah claimed it launched a drone attack on Israeli troops positioned inside a building near the coast, signalling that retaliatory operations remain active.
The Israeli military also reported carrying out dozens of strikes within 24 hours, focusing on what it described as militant positions, weapons sites, and fortified locations. Ground forces have simultaneously continued demolishing structures near the border, asserting that these buildings were previously used by Hezbollah as operational outposts.
These developments come even as a ceasefire, initially agreed upon in mid-April, remains formally in place. The persistence of strikes, counterattacks, and evacuation warnings for civilians indicates that the truce is fragile and only partially effective on the ground.
The broader conflict, which escalated after regional tensions linked to Iran, has already resulted in thousands of casualties in Lebanon, along with widespread displacement and infrastructure damage. The latest incident involving the convent has added a new layer of sensitivity, bringing religious and cultural concerns into an already volatile military confrontation.
