Israeli attacks on Nabatieh followed an Israeli claim that Hezbollah launched two explosive drones at its troops near the strategic Ali al-Taher Ridge
Israeli strikes killed one person and wounded another in the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh on Wednesday, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency, after the Israeli military said it had struck the area in response to an alleged Hezbollah drone attack on its forces.
The *NNA *said the casualties resulted from an Israeli drone strike on the al-Ruwaiss and al-Maasouma Garden neighbourhoods of Nabatieh. Further Israeli strikes later hit the Nabatieh area, with local media reporting heavy explosions around Kfar Tebnit and circulating footage of a large column of smoke.
The Israeli military claimed that Hezbollah had launched two explosive drones overnight towards soldiers operating near the Ali al-Taher Ridge, close to Nabatieh. It said troops fired at and intercepted one of the drones and that no Israeli personnel were injured. Israel said it subsequently targeted what it alleged to be "Hezbollah infrastructure" used to plan attacks on its troops and civilians.
Hezbollah had not publicly commented on the Israeli allegation by Wednesday afternoon. The group has not claimed responsibility for attacks on Israeli targets in recent weeks.
Air raid sirens sounded briefly on Tuesday night in Tuval and Ma’ayan Baruch in northern Israel, near the Lebanese border, amid the alleged drone incident. Lebanese media later reported additional Israeli attacks across the south, including in Mansouri, Houla and Qantara.
The Ali al-Taher Ridge, a high point near Nabatieh overlooking areas of south Lebanon and northern Israel, has become a particular focus of Israeli operations. Israel has alleged that Hezbollah maintains underground military infrastructure in the area, while the elevation gives forces operating there a wide view of the surrounding border region.
The attacks came a day after US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. Israeli National Security Adviser Shmuel Ben Ezra also attended the meeting, according to images issued by Netanyahu’s office, which did not disclose the substance of the discussion.
The meeting took place before an anticipated eighth round of US-mediated Lebanese-Israeli talks in Rome. No official date has been announced, though Lebanese broadcaster *MTV *reported that the next session could be held on 15-16 September. In a statement on X, Huckabee claimed Hezbollah was the only obstacle to progress in the negotiations.
The talks are based on a US-brokered framework agreed on 26 June, under which Israeli forces would withdraw in phases from southern Lebanon while the Lebanese army deploys to designated areas and non-state armed infrastructure is dismantled. The arrangement has been slowed by disagreements over the sequencing of any Israeli withdrawal, the scope and pace of the Lebanese army’s deployment, and how compliance would be independently verified.
Israel has demanded assurances that areas transferred to Lebanese state control are clear of Hezbollah weapons and military positions. Lebanon, meanwhile, has sought a further Israeli withdrawal and resisted proposals that could amount to a permanent "security belt" or buffer zone inside its territory. Hezbollah has rejected arrangements affecting its weapons, leaving the army’s role in any eventual implementation politically sensitive.
Separately, the Lebanese Armed Forces said it was responding to what it described as "fabricated claims" by Israeli media concerning the army’s positions and operational role in southern Lebanon. In a statement issued on Wednesday, it said the reports sought to undermine internal cohesion and public confidence in the institution and its leadership.
The statement did not identify a specific report or outlets. But it appears to be intended to counter claims often by Israeli media outlets to cast doubt on the Lebanon army’s performance, loyalties or ability to carry out its southern missions at a moment when it is expected to be central to any eventual Israeli withdrawal and security arrangement. The army said its personnel remained committed to the command’s directives and to defending Lebanese sovereignty, security and stability.
Lebanon's health ministry says Israeli attacks have killed at least 8,920 people since hostilities erupted in October 2023.
