Lebanese Red Cross members visited the predominantly Christian town of Aitou in northern Lebanon on the 15th, assessing damage from recent Israeli airstrikes. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) statement released on the morning of the same day, they had conducted operations over the past 24 hours on both land and air fronts, targeting over 200 sites associated with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Notably, Hezbollah’s UAV development unit, known as Unit 127, has emerged as a top priority for the IDF.
Yedioth Ahronoth’s YNET reported that the IDF’s airstrikes were coordinated with ground operations aimed at Hezbollah militants’ positions, anti-tank missile sites, and ground-to-ground missile launchers, resulting in the destruction of more than 200 locations.
On the 14th, the IDF discovered a significant underground headquarters belonging to Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force, measuring approximately 800 meters long and located within a residential area close to the Israeli border in southern Lebanon.
Unit 127, responsible for drone technology development, has become a key focus for the IDF, particularly after a recent drone attack by Hezbollah that breached Israeli air defenses, leading to the deaths of four soldiers at an Israeli military base.
Reports indicate that Unit 127 has been enhancing its expertise in drone manufacturing and deployment, gaining valuable insights from Iranian technology. Their capabilities are believed to extend to offensive operations as well as intelligence gathering.
Additionally, Unit 127’s influence spans beyond Lebanon, collaborating directly with Iranian forces to establish drone infrastructure in Syria. The unit works closely with the Iranian Quds Force’s 340 unit, which assists Iranian proxies across the Middle East in developing autonomous weapon manufacturing capabilities.
According to Central News Agency reports, the Israeli ground invasion of southern Lebanon has now continued for two weeks. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) stated on the 15th that Israeli military evacuation orders have affected more than a quarter of Lebanon’s territory.
These statistics highlight the severe toll that civilians in Lebanon are facing. The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has been ongoing for a year, with the Israeli military ramping up its efforts to dismantle Hezbollah’s infrastructure.
During a press conference in Geneva, Rema Jamous Imseis, Director of Middle East Affairs for UNHCR, stated that Israel’s latest evacuation order encompasses 20 villages in southern Lebanon, indicating that over a quarter of the country has been impacted by the conflict.
The Lebanese government reports that Israeli attacks over the past year have resulted in at least 2,309 deaths and over 1.2 million people displaced.
Health officials in Lebanon noted that on the 14th, Israel expanded its bombings in northern Lebanon, targeting shelters for displaced individuals, which resulted in at least 22 deaths, including 12 women and 2 children.
Israel has yet to comment on the attack in Aitou, but has repeatedly stated its commitment to taking all possible precautions to minimize civilian casualties.
