LEBANON – Late Thursday, the Israeli army launched a series of airstrikes in Lebanon targeting the southern parts of the country shortly after issuing evacuation orders. A ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel has been in effect since November 2024, although numerous Israeli drone strikes have been reported throughout the ceasefire period.

Israeli fighter jets struck a building in Tayr Debba in Tyre district and another in Al-Taybeh in Marjayoun district. Airstrikes also targeted a building in Aita al-Jabal in Bint Jbeil and another in Zoutar al-Sharqiya in Nabatieh, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported.

The Israeli army also hit two buildings in Kafr Dounin and Zawtar Al-Sharqiya in Nabatieh district.

The Israeli army meanwhile carried out a bombardment on the southern town of Aitaroun without prior warning.

The Lebanese agency later reported that several private schools in Nabatieh have called for closing their doors on Friday and suspending classes due to Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon.

It said the decision was made in light of the current situation “to avoid exposing students and teachers to any danger.”

The director of the Faculty of Science at the Lebanese University, Wassim Rammal, also announced the postponement of exams scheduled for Friday to Nov. 11, according to the same source.

He said the decision was made “in view of the ongoing Israeli aggression against southern villages and to ensure the safety of our students, staff and professors.”

Prior to the attacks, the Israeli army “dropped inciteful leaflets over the town of Aita al-Shaab,” said the agency, without specifying their content, though such leaflets are usually directed against the Hezbollah group.

Footage obtained and shared on social media showed powerful explosions and rising flames and smoke following the strikes in the targeted areas.

According to NNA, Israeli drones also flew at very low altitude over the capital, Beirut, and its southern suburbs.

The Lebanese Health Ministry said one person was injured in an Israeli strike in Tayr Debba.

Israel’s public broadcaster KAN, citing military sources, said the attacks were carried out in coordination with US forces stationed at the Northern Command base in Israel.

KAN said the strikes targeted mainly Shia villages near the border to allegedly prevent the deployment of Hezbollah fighters in areas adjacent to Israel.

The broadcaster, citing Israeli military officials, said that Lebanese troop deployments in the south were slower than expected.

Thursday’s strikes came after the Israeli army ordered Lebanese residents to evacuate before the attacks.

The army claimed that the strikes aimed to thwart Hezbollah’s attempts to rebuild its capabilities in Aita al-Jabal, al-Taybeh and Tayr Debba.

Tensions have been mounting in southern Lebanon for weeks, with the Israeli army intensifying near-daily air raids inside Lebanese territory despite the ceasefire, under the pretext of targeting Hezbollah members and infrastructure.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported Thursday that Tel Aviv is preparing for another possible round of fighting with Hezbollah.

The Israeli army has killed more than 4,000 people and injured nearly 17,000 in its attacks on Lebanon, which began in October 2023 and turned into a full-scale offensive in September 2024.