Golani reconnaissance troops spent three days fighting near the Litani River, about 10 kilometers from Israel’s border, killing 15 Hezbollah fighters in close-range clashes and suffering two light shrapnel injuries.
The week-old raid pushed into second- and third-line villages after heavy preparatory fire and robot scans, targeting terrain the IDF says Hezbollah had prepared as a staging ground for cross-border attacks.
Namer armored carriers helped seize fire-control positions, after which troops uncovered weapons caches, mortars and tunnel compounds built for prolonged stays and destroyed them in engineering operations.
Explosive drones repeatedly targeted the force during the operation, underscoring a persistent battlefield threat the IDF said it is countering with tighter procedures and evolving technology.
The 36th Division and Golani Brigade are still holding the deeper line as clearing continues; the Israeli Air Force struck more than 100 targets in support of a broader effort to blunt Hezbollah raid capabilities.
As jamming-proof drones change the battlefield, can Israel's new defenses counter Hezbollah's lethal, low-cost tactics?
Israel is carving a 'security zone' in Lebanon. Is this a permanent solution or a blueprint for endless conflict?
With a million displaced, will Israel's 'Dahiya doctrine' in Lebanon achieve security or create a new generation of enemies?
May 2026: Israeli Forces Target Hezbollah Tunnels in Southern Lebanon Amid 100,000-Soldier Mobilization and Worsening Humanitarian Crisis
Overview
In early May 2026, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched planned overnight operations in southern Lebanon, focusing on areas where the Golani Brigade is typically active. These operations included direct clashes with Hezbollah fighters, such as close combat near Zawtar Sharqieh, and resulted in Israeli forces evacuating casualties before withdrawing. The IDF also uncovered and publicized a Hezbollah tunnel near the Litani River, highlighting ongoing efforts to dismantle Hezbollah’s strategic infrastructure. These actions are part of a broader campaign to reduce threats from armed groups near Israel’s northern border and demonstrate the evolving tactics and technology used in the conflict.