Not just Gaza: IDF conducts heavy airstrikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon & Syrian army targets

Shortly before resuming the war in Gaza, the Israeli Air Force conducted a series of airstrikes in Lebanon and Syria on Monday evening, targeting military infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah and the old Syrian army, respectively.

On the Lebanese front, the day began when the Israel Defense Forces spotted and struck “two Hezbollah terrorists who served as observation operatives and directed terrorist activities.”

The strike was carried out with a drone and hit two terrorists on a moped in the town of Yohmor, killing two people, according to Lebanese reports.

In the evening, the IDF announced it struck “military sites in which Hezbollah terrorists and weapons were identified. Terror activity at these sites poses a threat to the State of Israel and constitutes a blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon.”

The Saudi Al-Hadath channel reported that “Israeli aircraft attacked seven sites in different areas.” According to Lebanese reports, these included areas near Libbaya and Meidoun, which lie north of the Litani River in the Bekaa Valley, as well as near the Beaufort Fortress, on the banks of the Litani near the Israeli border.

After sporadic strikes these past months, the IDF markedly intensified its attacks on Hezbollah after a gunshot, possibly fired during a funeral for Hezbollah members, hit a car near the Israeli town of Avivim on Sunday.

The heavy strikes on Hezbollah came amid the third day of heavy exchanges of fire between the terror group and the forces of the new Syrian government along the northern part of their border.

The Lebanese Army announced Monday that “Contacts are continuing between the Lebanese Army command and the Syrian authorities in order to restore calm and bring the situation in the border area under control.”

Late Monday evening, the Israeli Air Force embarked on another wave of airstrikes in Syria, aiming to further degrade and destroy military equipment left over from the ousted Assad regime’s military.

Israeli airstrikes reported against a Syrian military site in Daraa. pic.twitter.com/vqJ0EMwZix

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IDF said it struck “military targets in southern Syria, including command centers and military sites containing weapons and military vehicles belonging to the old Syrian Regime, which they are attempting to make reusable.”

“The presence of military assets in southern Syria poses a threat to the State of Israel. The IDF will not allow the presence of military threats in southern Syria and will operate against it,” the military said.

According to Syrian reports, Israel conducted some 30 strikes, part of which hit the old headquarters of the 132nd Brigade on the outskirts of the province capital, the city of Daraa.

Other targets reportedly included a military site seized by Iranian militias and sites near the town of al-Kiswah, on the outskirts of Damascus.

The airstrikes produced one of the highest tolls of victims since Israel began its campaign of destroying Syrian army equipment.

Syrian state news agency SANA reported that at least three people were killed and 19 were wounded in the strikes.