Israel dedicates a featureless security zone in southern Lebanon

Repeated Israeli bombings in villages in southern Lebanon raise questions about the objectives of targeting areas that had previously been subjected to widespread destruction, especially in Zawtar al-Sharqiya, Qantara, and the vicinity of Kafr Tibnit. The continuation of demolitions coincides with a military escalation that includes ground raids and incursions.

On Friday, the south witnessed a series of Israeli bombings, including the town of Al-Tiri in the Bint Jbeil district, and the outskirts of Beit Yahoun towards Kunine, in addition to a violent bombing in Zawtar Al-Sharqiya in the Nabatieh district, the repercussions of which resonated in large areas, and a bombing operation in Al-Qantara coincided with a sweep with machine guns towards the town.

The artillery shelling targeted Al-Qantara, Wadi Al-Saluki, Baraashit, Wadi Zebqin, and Al-Mansouri, while the outskirts of Mifdoun were bombed shortly after midnight. Israeli vehicles had retreated from the vicinity of Zawtar al-Gharbiya to Zawtar al-Sharqiya, after advancing towards it at night, while an incursion was recorded on the outskirts of Baraashit following shelling and sweeping with machine guns.

Researcher in security and defense affairs, Dr. Riyad Kahwaji, said that “the Israeli army’s continued bombing of partially destroyed villages and towns in southern Lebanon is linked to Israel’s endeavor to establish a security zone under its control, to which it does not intend to allow residents to return during the coming period.” Qahwaji explained that “the continuation of bombing and bombing operations is linked to more than one factor, including the Israeli forces continuing to find tunnels that previously existed.”

In turn, retired Brigadier General Bassam Yassin said that “the repeated bombing operations carried out by the Israeli army in the villages of southern Lebanon aim to almost completely wipe out these villages and make it extremely difficult for their residents to return to them.” He added, "This destruction constitutes a long-term punishment for the southern villages and their residents."

In another context, an Israeli army force penetrated towards the village of Maariya in the western countryside of Daraa, on Friday, and deployed on its outskirts for about half an hour, before withdrawing. The Sijil Center documented 395 Israeli violations in Syria during last October, the highest monthly toll since the beginning of 2026.

In Jordan, an operation took place Thursday in Amman, resulting in the killing of a security man and the injury of another, at the hands of a “terrorist” who was recently released. Security experts point out that the attack, even if it appears to be “individual,” does not deny that terrorists received instructions from electronic accounts affiliated with ISIS. These developments prompted the Jordanian security services to carry out a series of large-scale raids in various regions of the Kingdom, including the north, center, and south.