Israel Pulls Back After Hezbollah Drone Strikes Injure Soldiers in Southern Lebanon

Suara Pecari | Hezbollah deployed drone Hezbollah attacks against Israeli positions in southern Lebanon on Monday, leaving two soldiers wounded and forcing the Israeli army to retreat from the contested zone.

At approximately 13:30 local time, a Hezbollah‑operated drone struck a Caterpillar D9 armored bulldozer that was leveling houses in Bint Jbeil, destroying the vehicle and confirming the group’s targeting precision.

Half an hour later, a second unmanned aircraft hit a Merkava main battle tank near Qantara, damaging its hull and temporarily halting the tank’s advance.

The final sortie of the day arrived at 17:30, when two drones descended on an Israeli troop concentration in Naqoura, a site that the Lebanese militia says housed a significant force presence.

Israel’s military radio confirmed that two Israeli soldiers suffered serious injuries from the Naqoura explosion, describing the incident as a “critical blow” to field operations.

Israeli officials warned that the growing use of explosive drones poses a “major tactical challenge” for forces operating in the rugged border terrain.

Hezbollah’s spokesperson asserted that the attacks were retaliation for what the group described as violations of a cease‑fire agreement and the demolition of civilian homes by Israeli engineers.

The militia highlighted that earlier in the week Israeli bulldozers had razed several structures in Bint Jbeil, prompting a warning that any further encroachment would be met with similar force.

Tensions along the Lebanon‑Israel frontier have surged despite a tentative cease‑fire announced last month, raising concerns of a broader escalation across the volatile border.

United Nations observers in the area called for restraint from both sides, emphasizing that civilian populations remain at heightened risk amid the intensified exchanges.

Analysts note that Hezbollah’s adoption of armed drones marks a shift in asymmetric warfare, exposing vulnerabilities even in Israel’s renowned Merkava armor and forcing a reassessment of defensive doctrines.

As Israeli units pull back to more secure positions, the region braces for further confrontations, with both parties signaling readiness to continue the tit‑for‑tat but hoping to avoid a full‑scale war.