Levant: Security

Israeli military operations in Lebanon escalated significantly in April, with a major ground offensive reoccupying areas in southern Lebanon previously held before a 2024 ceasefire. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported striking Hezbollah command centers in Beirut and over 140 sites across Lebanon, killing a senior commander and dozens of operatives. A reserve brigade was deployed to widen the offensive, and troops seized caches of Hezbollah weapons. Israeli officials stated that completely disarming Hezbollah would require a full-scale invasion, which they described as unrealistic. The operations reportedly led to the withdrawal of the Lebanese army from some areas, with UN peacekeeping forces also present and three UNIFIL peacekeepers wounded in a blast.

Hezbollah, along with Iran and Yemen's Houthi rebels, conducted attacks on Israel, targeting military bases, settlements, and the city of Eilat with drones and rockets. These attacks caused sirens in northern Israel and injured at least 163 people. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue what he called crushing the Iranian regime and Hezbollah, though the IDF has reportedly admitted it cannot disarm the group. The fighting has extended beyond Hezbollah-affiliated areas, with strikes reportedly hitting Christian villages and civilian infrastructure, including a bridge and a hospital in southern Lebanon.