Tensions escalated further overnight from Sunday to Monday. Israeli helicopter-borne troops landed in eastern Lebanon, triggering intense fighting with Hezbollah near the Syrian border.

A large-scale airborne assault

According to the National News Agency (NNA), the operation is concentrated around the village of Nabi Chit . Hezbollah claims that nearly 15 helicopters were mobilized to drop in commandos shortly after midnight.

1. Hezbollah's reaction: The Shiite movement stated that it had engaged in combat with "appropriate weapons" and even claimed to have shot down an Israeli aircraft.
2. The likely target: This area was already targeted last Friday. The IDF is conducting active searches there to locate the remains of Ron Arad , a pilot who disappeared in 1986, whose repatriation remains a national priority for Israel.

An increasingly heavy human toll

Lebanon is sinking into a humanitarian crisis under bombardment. Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine reports 394 deaths, including 83 children , in just one week of conflict.

Location of the strikes	Impact and victims
Nabi Chit (Friday)	41 dead and massive destruction.
Southern Lebanon (Sunday)	At least 11 dead in a single village.
Beirut (Raouche district)	Four people killed in a hotel attack targeting Iranian officials.
Southern Suburbs	Repeated strikes on Hezbollah strongholds.

The context: An open regional war

This cycle of violence began after Hezbollah attacked Israel on March 2nd to avenge the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei . Since then, the Israeli army has intensified its operations.

1. 600 Hezbollah targets were struck in seven days.
2. 200 members of the organization were reportedly eliminated.
3. Among the victims of the Beirut strikes were reportedly three senior commanders of the Quds Force (Iranian Revolutionary Guard).

Note: The situation on the ground remains extremely fluid, with fighting continuing in the Bekaa plain while the search for the missing airman appears to be the driving force behind these risky ground incursions.