Tel Aviv, May 3 — The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) reported on Sunday that it recovered dozens of weapons it says belonged to Hezbollah and were intended for attacks on IDF personnel.
In a post on X the IDF published photos and an inventory listing Kalashnikov rifles, machine guns, anti-tank missiles, magazines and other combat equipment. The statement said two armed militants were killed south of the Forward Defense Line after posing an immediate threat to Israeli troops.
Earlier the IDF said it had “eliminated” two armed Hezbollah operatives who presented an imminent danger south of the Forward Defense Line. Forces later struck additional militants identified inside structures who were assessed to pose a threat.
Avichay Adraee, the IDF spokesperson to Arab media, posted a video on X saying operations south of the defence line continue to remove threats to Israel. In Arabic-language posts he said a multi-dimensional unit carried out strikes in recent days, including a drone strike that hit two militants after they posed a danger in the area, and that other observed militants were also targeted.
Adraee added Saturday evening that Israeli airstrikes over the weekend hit numerous Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. He said roughly 70 buildings used by Hezbollah for military purposes and about 50 pieces of Hezbollah-affiliated infrastructure across several areas were destroyed. Among the targets he listed were a Hezbollah command headquarters, a weapons depot, military buildings and other infrastructure allegedly used to plan or support actions against IDF forces and Israeli civilians.
The Jerusalem Post describes Hezbollah as a Shiite movement based in Lebanon that has conducted guerrilla operations against Israel since the 1980s. The group is designated a terrorist organisation by the United States, Israel, Canada, the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
These developments come amid hardened rhetoric from Hezbollah leadership. On April 27 Hezbollah deputy chief Naim Qassem reiterated the group’s refusal to engage in direct talks with Israel, saying direct negotiations were “out of the question,” that the organisation would not surrender its weapons and that its defence and field forces were prepared for confrontation. He also criticized Lebanese authorities’ diplomatic approach and urged indirect negotiations instead.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on April 26 that ceasefire arrangements in Lebanon were being undermined by Hezbollah and said Israel would respond with force to secure the northern border, stressing continued IDF activity there.
The military activity and statements follow a U.S. announcement on April 23 in which President Donald Trump said the ceasefire would be extended by three weeks and that the administration would work with Lebanon to strengthen its ability to resist Hezbollah influence.
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