In a dramatic escalation of cross-border tensions, Israel’s air force conducted intense airstrikes on the mountainous regions overlooking a southern Lebanese city on Friday, June 27. According to the Israeli military, the bombardment was aimed at targeting underground facilities of the Hezbollah militant group. The strikes mark one of the most aggressive aerial operations in southern Lebanon since the ceasefire that ended the 14-month-long Israel-Hezbollah conflict brokered by the United States in November.

Shortly after the mountain strikes, an Israeli airstrike hit an apartment building in the city of Nabatieh, leading to the tragic death of one woman and injuries to at least 11 others. Lebanon’s state news agency reported that the upper floor of the building was completely destroyed. However, it remains unclear whether the apartment was a deliberate target or part of the broader assault on Hezbollah infrastructure. The blast caused panic among residents and raised alarms across the region, with fears of a renewed cycle of retaliatory violence.

While airstrikes along the Israeli-Lebanese border have become an almost daily occurrence post-ceasefire, Friday’s attack was notably more severe, hinting at rising military tensions. The repeated targeting of civilian areas has drawn criticism from international observers concerned about the humanitarian fallout. As regional powers monitor the situation closely, both Lebanon and Israel appear to be bracing for potential fallout amid fears that the fragile peace could unravel at any moment.