Israeli forces launched a series of airstrikes on southern Lebanon, targeting sites linked to Hezbollah, on the first anniversary of the ceasefire that ended last year's cross-border conflict. The Israeli military accused Hezbollah of violating the truce by rebuilding its military infrastructure in the south, and reported that over 370 operatives, mostly from Hezbollah, have been killed since the agreement was signed. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam offered rare public criticism of Hezbollah, questioning the group's claim that its weapons deter Israeli attacks, as civilian casualties from the strikes continued to mount.

The strikes come ahead of Pope Leo the Fourteenth's visit to Lebanon, though he will avoid the tense southern region. The United Nations reported that at least 127 civilians have died in Israeli strikes since the ceasefire, while Lebanese authorities say over 330 people have been killed overall. Despite the ceasefire's terms requiring Hezbollah to vacate southern Lebanon, Israel maintains a presence at five border posts, citing ongoing threats from the group. The Israeli military has conducted hundreds of airstrikes and over a thousand ground operations to prevent Hezbollah from regaining strength, as tensions remain high in the region.