Over 150 attacks in 30 hours: Inside Israel's escalating war against Hezbollah

UPDATED: May 28, 2026 20:15 IST

Standing along the tense Israel-Lebanon border, the sounds of explosions and interceptor missiles continue to dominate the skies as the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) intensify operations against Hezbollah positions inside Lebanon. According to reports, more than 150 strikes have been carried out against Hezbollah targets in the last 30 hours alone as Israel expands what it describes as a long-term campaign to dismantle the Iran-backed armed group.

The conflict along the northern front has been raging since October 2023, with Israel accusing Hezbollah of repeatedly violating ceasefire understandings. Israeli officials claim there have been over 400 ceasefire violations in recent weeks, including rocket barrages, drone attacks and infiltration attempts from southern Lebanon into northern Israel.

While the United States says it is moving closer to a possible peace understanding with Iran, Israel has made it clear that any broader regional deal must include the disarmament of Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israeli officials insist that without dismantling Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, operations inside Lebanon will continue.

Speaking to India Today near the Lebanon border, a former intelligence officer, Lt Col Sarit Zehavi with the IDF, said Hezbollah had long been preparing for a larger confrontation with Israel.

“For nearly 11 months we were only on the defensive. We heard blasts, drones and there was always fear that Hezbollah would attack us. After almost 11 months, Israel decided to move to offensive operations,” said the officer, referring to the 2024 operations against Hezbollah.

The officer added that residents across northern Israel continue to live under constant threat of rocket attacks and drone infiltrations. “There are barrages of rockets and Iron Dome interceptions almost every day. We are trying to prevent an attack Hezbollah has been planning for years,” she said.

She also rejected suggestions that a stable ceasefire currently exists between Israel and Lebanon. “There is no real ceasefire. There are attacks every day. Hezbollah should be disarmed, but that is not happening. The Lebanese government is afraid of confronting Hezbollah,” she claimed.

Israel argues that Hezbollah continues to manufacture and smuggle weapons through Syria into Lebanon while expanding its military infrastructure in civilian areas. According to Israeli estimates, Hezbollah still has nearly 50,000 operatives, despite heavy losses during the ongoing conflict. Israeli sources claim that around 3,000 Hezbollah fighters have been neutralised so far during operations, though independent verification remains difficult.

The former officer also defended Israeli strikes on infrastructure inside Lebanon, saying many residential buildings are allegedly being used to store weapons and launch attacks.

“There is suffering in Lebanon because of Hezbollah. Civilians are displaced because Hezbollah operates from populated areas. We have to dismantle houses that are being used for weaponisation,” he said.

As regional tensions continue to rise, Israel has also signalled its readiness to target Hezbollah assets deeper inside Beirut if attacks continue. With diplomacy around Iran underway and the northern front remaining volatile, the Israel-Lebanon border continues to be one of the most dangerous flashpoints in West Asia.

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