Israeli Forces Raid 61 Lebanese Villages, Kill 15-Year-Old as Occupation Pushes 12 Kilometers Deep
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 24
Israeli Forces Raid 61 Lebanese Villages, Kill 15-Year-Old as Occupation Pushes 12 Kilometers Deep
3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 24
Summary
At least eight people have been detained by Israeli troops in southern Lebanon since March, and a 15-year-old relative of one detainee was shot dead during a night raid in Halta, according to residents and Lebanese media.
Israel says it is holding suspects tied to militant activity and keeping troops in the area for self-defense, after Hezbollah opened a Lebanon front days after Israel and the U.S. launched war on Iran on Feb. 28.
The military has expanded its control up to 12 kilometers inside Lebanon and now bars residents from returning to 61 mostly Shiite towns and villages after adding eight more this week.
Along the edge of the occupied zone, residents say road closures, home demolitions and warnings against sheltering displaced Shiites have deepened fear and revived sectarian strains in mixed Christian, Sunni and Druze communities.
The latest truce linked to the U.S.-Iran interim peace deal has largely held, but Lebanon, Iran and Hezbollah all say any broader settlement must include an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
As Israeli occupation revives old sectarian wounds, is Lebanon spiraling into another devastating civil war?
With the U.S.-brokered truce rejected, is a wider regional war between Israel and Iran's proxies now inevitable?
A million people are displaced and aid is scarce. What is the plan to avert a total humanitarian collapse in Lebanon?
75,000 Displaced: The 2026 Israeli Offensive in Southern Lebanon and Its Humanitarian Fallout
Overview
In June 2026, the Israeli Defense Forces launched Operation Northern Shield in southern Lebanon, advancing up to 5 kilometers and focusing on neutralizing Hezbollah’s tunnels and rocket sites. The offensive included over 150 airstrikes and a naval blockade, while Hezbollah responded with hundreds of rockets into northern Israel, causing damage to border communities. The conflict has led to significant civilian casualties and mass displacement, especially in Lebanese villages south of the Litani River. Widespread destruction of homes and infrastructure has triggered a severe humanitarian crisis, highlighting the escalating regional tensions and deepening Lebanon’s internal divisions.