{"id":455119,"date":"2026-05-22T20:21:18","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T20:21:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/455119\/"},"modified":"2026-05-22T20:21:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T20:21:18","slug":"idf-kills-hezbollah-operatives-in-lebanon-as-drones-trigger-border-sirens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/455119\/","title":{"rendered":"IDF kills Hezbollah operatives in Lebanon, as drones trigger border sirens"},"content":{"rendered":"

Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon killed at least nine people on Friday, including a child and six rescuers from organizations linked to Hezbollah and its Shiite ally Amal, according to the Lebanese health ministry.<\/p>\n

At the same time, multiple sirens sounded in northern Israel throughout the day due to Hezbollah drone attacks that caused no injuries.<\/p>\n

Beirut said an Israeli strike on the town of Hannouiyeh killed four rescuers from the Hezbollah-linked Islamic Health Committee. The health ministry does not distinguish in its reports between combatants and civilians.<\/p>\n

It said a later strike on Deir Qanun al-Nahr killed a Syrian girl, as well as two rescuers from the Amal-linked Risala Scouts association, one of whom was also working as a freelance photographer.<\/p>\n

Separately, the Israel Defense Forces said surveillance operators overnight identified two armed terror operatives approaching the northern border from the direction of the southern Lebanese village of Yaroun. Within minutes, an Israeli Air Force fighter jet struck the suspects under the direction of forces on the ground. After movement was detected in the area following the initial strike, the pair was targeted again and killed.<\/p>\n

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Local security squads in the nearby communities of Dovev, Matat, and Baram were dispatched to their communities\u2019 entrances during the incident.<\/p>\n

\t\"\"
\n\t\tSmoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese village of al-Haniyya on May 21, 2026. (KAWANT HAJU \/ AFP)<\/p>\n

The military also reported on Friday that troops operating in southern Lebanon had killed five Hezbollah operatives the previous day after spotting them entering a command center belonging to the terror group north of the Israeli-held area in southern Lebanon.<\/p>\n

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\u2014 \u05e6\u05d1\u05d0 \u05d4\u05d4\u05d2\u05e0\u05d4 \u05dc\u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc (@idfonline) May 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

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The IDF added that troops had also struck Hezbollah weapons depots and other terror infrastructure in Lebanon, while additional operatives deemed a threat were also killed.<\/p>\n

Sirens across northern Israel<\/p>\n

Sirens blared across northern Israel throughout the day on Friday.<\/p>\n

In the morning, the IDF said it lost contact with two \u201csuspicious aerial targets\u201d that set off sirens warning of drone infiltration in the Rosh Hanikra area, near the border with Lebanon.<\/p>\n

According to the military, contact with the targets was lost before they crossed into Israeli airspace. The incidents concluded, and no injuries were reported.<\/p>\n

\t\"\"
\n\t\tAn explosive drone launched by Hezbollah is seen near the Israeli border with Lebanon during a Hezbollah attack in northern Israel, May 19, 2026. (Ayal Margolin\/Flash90)<\/p>\n

On Friday afternoon, sirens rang once more, warning of drone infiltrations on Netua, Shtula\u00a0and Zarit, as well as in Misgav Am and Margaliot.<\/p>\n

The IDF said it intercepted two \u201csuspicious aerial targets\u201d launched from Lebanon at Israel. Additionally, several impacts were identified along the Lebanese border, within Israeli territory. The IDF said the details were under review.<\/p>\n

Lebanon affirms soldiers\u2019 loyalty after US sanctions<\/p>\n

Lebanon\u2019s military said Friday its soldiers were loyal to the institution after the US announced sanctions that included an officer accused of sharing information with Hezbollah.<\/p>\n

The army said that \u201call officers and members of the military institution are performing their national duties with utmost professionalism, responsibility, and discipline.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\"\"
\n\t\tThis picture show a view of blue tents set up by the Lebanese government for people who fled their homes and villages in Beirut\u2019s southern suburbs and southern Lebanon, on May 22, 2026. (Anwar AMRO\/AFP)<\/p>\n

It emphasized that \u201cthe loyalty of military personnel is solely to the military institution and the nation, and that they are committed to fulfilling their national duties without any other considerations or pressures.\u201d<\/p>\n

The sanctions came after the US hosted three rounds of direct talks between Lebanon and Israel \u2014 the neighboring enemy states\u2019 highest-level contact in decades \u2014 aimed at ending the war that began after Hezbollah dragged Lebanon into the broader regional war on March 2.<\/p>\n

Lebanon is forming a military delegation for security talks with Israel at the Pentagon on May 29, a step that was agreed in the latest round of direct talks earlier this month.<\/p>\n

A fourth round of negotiations is planned for June.<\/p>\n

\t\"\"
\n\t\tA woman holds a portrait of assassinated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, as the Iran-backed terror group\u2019s supporters demonstrate in Beirut to protest Lebanese authorities decision to engage in direct negotiations with Israel, on April 10, 2026. (Fadel Itani\/AFP)<\/p>\n

The talks have so far failed to bring the conflict to a close, with Lebanon demanding an Israeli withdrawal and Israel demanding that Hezbollah be disarmed. The Iran-backed terror group itself rejects direct talks with Israel and says its arms are not up for discussion.<\/p>\n

Among those sanctioned were Iran\u2019s ambassador to Lebanon, three Hezbollah lawmakers, a former minister, and two figures from the Amal movement.<\/p>\n

They also targeted army colonel Samir Hamadi and Khattar Nasser Eldin, a general security officer, marking the first time officers were sanctioned in Lebanon.<\/p>\n

The Lebanese army said that it was not informed of the sanctions beforehand. In a statement, it affirmed its trust in its personnel, adding that if any \u201cemployee is found to have leaked any information outside the institution\u2026 they will be subject to fair legal and judicial accountability.\u201d<\/p>\n

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday that Washington \u201cwill continue to take action against officials who have infiltrated the Lebanese government,\u201d insisting Hezbollah must be \u201cdisarmed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\"\"
\n\t\tDisplaced residents wave a flag with the image of Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem as they return to their villages following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, in Zefta, southern Lebanon, April 17, 2026. (AP Photo\/Hassan Ammar)<\/p>\n

Hezbollah called the sanctions \u201can attempt to intimidate the free Lebanese people to bolster the Zionist aggression against our country.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hezbollah lawmakers said the sanctions \u201cwill have no practical effect,\u201d though the group faces internal pressure following two wars with Israel that caused widespread destruction and pushed Lebanon to negotiate with Israel.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe sanctions are a continuation of the tightening of the noose around Hezbollah, an attempt to separate it from the state after it managed, over the past 20 years\u2026 to embed many elements\u201d in it, military expert Riad Kahwaji told AFP.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese sanctions show today that no party is immune, regardless of whether it is inside or outside state institutions.\u201d<\/p>\n


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