Israeli strikes, drones and artillery hit villages across southern Lebanon

Israeli airstrikes, drone attacks and artillery fire hit several areas of southern Lebanon on Saturday 31 October, L’Orient Today reported, citing its correspondent in the south.

Strikes targeted Kfar Tebnit in Nabatieh district, Haddatha and the outskirts of Braachit in Bint Jbeil district, where a four-storey building was destroyed at dawn, the newspaper said. Artillery fire hit areas including Tallousseh, Mansouri, Srebbine and Majdal Zoun. In Mayfadoun, seven Israeli drone attacks on homes were recorded by the afternoon, causing material damage but no reported injuries; the correspondent said most targeted homes had poles used to transmit internet signals.

Later on Saturday, a large explosion destroyed homes and other buildings in Kfar Tebnit, the correspondent said. Israeli forces also advanced from Khiam towards two homes on the edge of Ibl al-Saqi and told residents they would search them using a drone, and carried out construction work on a military road towards the Shebaa area. On Friday evening the Israeli army blew up several homes in Khiam’s Jableh neighbourhood, according to the report.

L’Orient Today’s report did not include comment from the Israeli military.

Background: Israel and Hezbollah fought a war in 2024, and Israeli forces have continued strikes in southern Lebanon since. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has called on Israel to halt its attacks, while Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has rejected giving up the group’s weapons (our earlier report).

US angle: Lebanese and Israeli military talks in Tampa, Florida, held under a US-brokered June framework, ended without a breakthrough last week, according to media reports (our earlier report).