Israel launched a wave of targeted airstrikes in eastern Lebanon to dismantle Hezbollah’s re-emerging Radwan Force and disrupt planned attacks on Israeli soil.
In a significant escalation along the northern front, Israeli Air Force fighter jets launched a series of precision airstrikes early Tuesday morning on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley, a region long known as a militant stronghold. The operation was coordinated by IDF’s Intelligence Directorate and Northern Command, with the goal of thwarting the reconstitution of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force.
The targets included multiple military compounds used for training and operational planning, where Hezbollah operatives were reportedly conducting live-fire drills and weapons exercises in preparation for attacks against IDF personnel and Israeli territory. According to Israeli defense officials, the strikes aimed to disrupt Hezbollah’s growing efforts to rearm and regroup following past setbacks.
Of particular concern to Israeli military planners is the Radwan Force, an elite Hezbollah unit behind the group’s longstanding “Conquer the Galilee” plan — a strategy to infiltrate and seize Israeli communities along the northern border. Though the unit’s senior leadership was eliminated in Operation Northern Arrows in September 2024, intelligence reports indicate renewed attempts to restore its offensive capabilities.
“The reconstitution of Radwan’s power structure represents a serious and evolving threat,” an IDF statement said, emphasizing that the storage of weapons and militant activity in these compounds violates long-standing UN resolutions and Israel-Lebanon understandings.
In a pointed statement, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reinforced Israel’s commitment to defending its northern border:
“These strikes send a decisive message — not only to Hezbollah, which seeks to restore its capacity for cross-border raids through the Radwan Force — but also to the Lebanese government, which bears responsibility for preventing such violations.”
He added, “We will not allow the reestablishment of terrorist infrastructure. Every threat will be neutralized with maximum force to ensure the security of Israeli citizens, especially in the north.”
This latest wave of strikes follows months of growing cross-border tension, including rocket fire, drone incursions, and intelligence warnings pointing to Hezbollah’s increased military buildup deep inside Lebanese territory. While Hezbollah has yet to officially respond to the strikes, the situation remains tense, and further retaliatory exchanges cannot be ruled out.
As both sides continue to shadowbox in a volatile standoff, the IDF’s latest actions underscore Israel’s resolve to preempt regional threats before they cross the border — literally or strategically.
