Large areas of southern Lebanon witnessed a new wave of air strikes, artillery shelling and demolitions carried out by Israeli forces, alongside low-altitude drone flights over southern villages extending to Beirut and its southern suburbs.
Air strikes and shelling target southern towns
In the latest documented field developments on Monday, 21 September 2026, Israeli aircraft carried out an air strike on Wadi al-Hujayr, while the outskirts of Zawtar al-Sharqiyah came under artillery fire accompanied by machine-gun fire directed towards the area. Another air strike targeted Wadi Zibqin, alongside artillery shelling of the towns of al-Mansouri and Majdal Zoun and the valleys around them in the Tyre district. Air strikes were also reported on the outskirts of Kfar Tibnit and at the Ali al-Taher forest on the northern outskirts of Nabatieh al-Fawqa.
The strikes were preceded by shelling that continued overnight and into the morning, hitting Nabatieh al-Fawqa, Zawtar al-Sharqiyah and Khallet Mifdoun before extending to Beit Lif, Haddatha and the outskirts of Braasheet. Shelling also targeted Wadi al-Saluki and the outskirts of the town of Tulin in the Marjayoun district. Israeli forces fired illuminating flares over villages in the western and central sectors, as well as over Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, Markaba, Houla and Haddatha.
In the town of al-Mansouri, Israeli forces carried out demolitions and blew up homes, alongside continued military movements and earthmoving operations inside the town. Heavy machine-gun fire targeted the towns and areas of Srifa, Haddatha, the outskirts of Mais al-Jabal, Wadi al-Saluki and Wadi Zibqin.
Drones fly over southern Lebanon and Beirut
This coincided with reported movements by Israeli military vehicles in Haddatha, Beit Yahoun, Rachaf and Mais al-Jabal. In Lebanese airspace, Israeli drones flew over villages in the Tyre area and along the Litani River, while a drone was reported flying at low altitude over Beirut and its southern suburbs. The aerial activity took place alongside continuing air strikes and military movements in several southern towns.
These developments come amid delays in implementing the agreement formula reached by Lebanon and Israel under US sponsorship on 26 June 2026. It includes the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory, alongside the deployment of the Lebanese Army and the extension of state institutions' authority over the areas covered by the arrangements.
The Lebanese Army announced on 9 September 2026 that it had begun taking field measures to tighten control in the model areas designated under the agreement. Its measures included establishing six fixed checkpoints and 13 observation posts on and along roads leading to and within Zawtar al-Gharbiyah, Frun and Srifa, as well as conducting round-the-clock foot and vehicle patrols.
Lebanese Army measures in the model areas
The army added that its units had opened roads with a combined length of approximately 12 kilometres and taken steps to facilitate residents' return by clearing rubble, opening roads and securing basic needs. It said about 70 per cent of Zawtar al-Gharbiyah's residents had been able to return to inspect their properties, while 60 of the town's 450 families had been able to move back in.
The Lebanese Army said about 7700 violations had been recorded from the signing of the agreement formula on 26 June until 9 September 2026, saying that continued attacks were obstructing the completion of its deployment and the implementation of missions set out under the security arrangements. According to figures announced by Lebanon's Ministry of Health, the war between 2 March and 17 September 2026 killed 4386 people and injured 12407 others.
This brought the overall toll since 8 October 2023 to 8953 killed and 30643 injured.
