Al Jazeera explains massive Israeli blasts on south Lebanon hill

As of September 7, 2026, Israel intensified its bombardment of southern Lebanon, killing at least 11 people including two children and two medics in the town of Deir Zahrani. This comes despite a ceasefire agreement brokered by the US in June aimed at halting violence between Israel and Hezbollah, an armed group backed by Iran. Since September 3, there have been daily shelling and airstrikes around Ali Taher Hill, near Nabatiyeh city, as Israel claims control over strategic areas while Hezbollah refuses to disarm or vacate those territories.

The latest round of attacks began early on Sunday, September 6, when Israeli strikes killed at least seven people in southern Lebanon, including two women. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun's office condemned these actions as "a dangerous escalation" targeting civilian and state institutions, calling for the United States and international community to intervene. Israel justified its military operations by accusing Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire with a drone attack on Israeli troops near Ali Taher Hill.

Since June 2023, Israeli forces have taken control of significant areas in southern Lebanon, expanding their declared "security zone," which has led to nearly 9,000 deaths and displacement of hundreds of thousands. On September 11, Israel reported destroying two kilometers of Hezbollah tunnels using over 1,100 tonnes of explosives, causing a magnitude-4.1 tremor beneath Ali al-Taher ridge.