Israel has pushed the situation in southern Lebanon to the brink of a "major explosion" after launching unprecedented airstrikes on valleys and riverbeds in southern villages, some of which were targeted for the first time.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah expanded the range of its rockets, hitting new areas that had been safe during nearly a year of confrontations between the two sides.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati canceled his trip to New York, where he was scheduled to participate in the United Nations General Assembly, in light of the significant Israeli escalation and the aerial bombardment that included nearly 100 airstrikes targeting dozens of valleys.
New areas in the Nabatieh and Zahrani regions, north of the Litani River, were also struck for the first time. Tel Aviv claimed the strikes targeted Hezbollah's rocket launchers.
In a statement, Mikati said: "I had intended to travel to New York as part of intensifying Lebanese diplomatic efforts during the United Nations General Assembly to stop Israel's ongoing aggression against Lebanon and the massacres the enemy is committing."
He added: "However, in light of the developments related to Israel's aggression against Lebanon, I have decided to cancel the trip. After consultation and coordination with the Foreign Minister (Abdullah Bou Habib), we have agreed on the urgent diplomatic actions needed at this stage."
Following the targeting of the southern suburbs of Beirut and the assassination of leaders from Hezbollah's elite Radwan unit, the Israeli army launched a new wave of airstrikes, hitting wide areas north and south of the Litani River. The strikes formed an arc extending from the northern Zahrani coast at Tfahta, toward the valleys of Nabatieh, Iqlim al-Tuffah, the Litani River, and down to the coast of Adloun. Israeli media reported on Saturday that the Israeli army attacked Hezbollah positions 32 kilometers deep inside Lebanon, mentioning more than 100 airstrikes on South Lebanon.
The National News Agency reported that Israeli warplanes carried out a series of intense airstrikes in Nabatieh, targeting valleys surrounding the towns of Ansar, Zrarieh, Sharqia - Nimrieh, Zefta, Deir al-Zahrani, Roumine, and Wadi al-Kfour, as well as the outskirts of Jbaa in Iqlim al-Tuffah. The planes dropped several air-to-ground missiles, causing loud explosions and thick smoke to rise over most of Nabatieh and Iqlim al-Tuffah.
The Israeli army, in turn, said that after projectiles were fired toward Israeli territory, it carried out heavy strikes targeting about 180 sites, hitting thousands of rocket-launching points.
In response, Hezbollah targeted Israel's primary missile defense base in the northern region, positions of Brigade 300 of Division 146 in the Adamit barracks, as well as the headquarters of Division 210 in the Nafah base, the newly established headquarters of the Galilee Division in Eilabun, and the Gal Al-Lam site. Hezbollah's rockets also hit the command center of the Sahl Battalion in the Beit Hillel barracks, and the scouting battalion's positions of Golani Brigade 631 in the Ramot and Zarit barracks.
