January 11, 2026 l Reporter: Johnson
BEIRUT — The Israeli army launched air strikes in southern Lebanon on Sunday after issuing an evacuation warning for the village of Kafr Hatta, intensifying tensions along the volatile Israel-Lebanon border despite efforts to fortify a post-2024 ceasefire agreement.
The strikes, which Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA) reported involved more than 10 air raids on locations including Kafr Hatta and surrounding areas, resulted in significant damage to buildings and infrastructure north of the Litani River. The Israeli military said its operations targeted what it described as Hezbollah military infrastructure in multiple sites.
An earlier evacuation warning for Kafr Hatta, a village situated just north of the Litani a key geographic demarcation in south Lebanon was issued by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) ahead of the strikes, instructing civilians to vacate areas expected to be hit. The warnings were shared publicly via military communications and maps indicating likely target zones.
The escalation comes in the wake of Lebanon’s announcement that its national army had completed the first phase of a government-led effort to disarm Hezbollah forces south of the Litani River — a move seen by Beirut as a step toward solidifying state authority in areas long dominated by the Iran-aligned militant group. However, Israel has maintained that these efforts are insufficient and has repeatedly signalled its intent to act against any rearmament or militant entrenchment by Hezbollah.
Despite the November 2024 ceasefire, which aimed to halt more than a year of open hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, regular air strikes and exchanges of fire have persisted along the border region. Israeli leaders have underscored that the ceasefire terms require full disarmament of Hezbollah and have criticised what they view as partial or uneven implementation by Lebanese authorities.
The military operations and related warnings have sparked concern in Beirut and among international observers about the fragility of the ceasefire and the risk of broader escalation. Lebanon’s government says it supports the ceasefire and reasserts its commitment to extending disarmament plans beyond the south, even as Hezbollah continues to wield significant military influence.
The broader regional context remains tense, with diplomatic efforts ongoing to prevent renewed conflict, even as both sides reinforce their respective positions along the border.