Israeli forces launched air strikes on September 6, 2026, targeting Hezbollah facilities and operatives in southern Lebanon in response to Hezbollah launching two drones toward Israeli soldiers inside a self-declared Israeli security zone up to 10 kilometers inside Lebanese territory along the border [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. An Israeli military statement said, "Terrorists from the Hezbollah terrorist organisation launched two drones towards IDF soldiers operating in the Security Zone in southern Lebanon. This constitutes a blatant violation by the Hezbollah terrorist organisation" [5].

The Israeli military issued evacuation warnings to residents near Hezbollah sites in the towns of Arab Salim and Deir al-Zahrani, with spokesperson Ella Waweya telling civilians that "remaining in the area puts you in danger" [1, 4, 5, 6]. The strikes killed at least four Lebanese civilians, including two women in Arab Salim and two others in Nabatieh al-Fawqa, according to the Lebanese health ministry. About 20 people were wounded [3, 6].

Damage was reported to several government offices, including ministries of finance and agriculture, a historical building, and a hospital that had been out of service for years [2, 3, 6]. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the Israeli strikes as "a dangerous escalation … reaching Lebanese state institutions" and called on the United States and international community to intervene and stop attacks on Lebanese state facilities [2, 4].

The violence continues despite a US-brokered ceasefire agreement reached in June 2026 between Israel and Lebanon. Israeli strikes since March 2, 2026, have killed more than 4,300 people and wounded over 12,000 in Lebanon amid the wider regional conflict [1, 7, 4, 5, 6, 8].

Israeli forces have operated inside the self-declared security zone along the border since before June, and Israeli airstrikes on September 5 hit the southern town of Mansouri and other localities causing widespread destruction [2, 5, 6, 8]. Hezbollah has not publicly commented on the recent drone attacks or Israeli strikes [2, 3].

On September 7, the Israeli military issued further evacuation orders for southern Lebanon ahead of additional planned strikes targeting Hezbollah facilities [4]. This marks the third such evacuation order since the June ceasefire was agreed.

The situation remains tense with imminent new Israeli strikes expected in southern Lebanon.