An Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon Saturday killed a Hezbollah operative, the military announced, as it continued its recent policy of targeting construction vehicles it says are being used by the terror group to rebuild positions.
The operative was operating heavy machinery in the village of Kfar Dounine, in an attempt to restore Hezbollah infrastructure in the area that had been destroyed during the fighting last year, the IDF said.
The army said that the “terrorist’s activities constituted a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon. ”
The Lebanese health ministry confirmed one person was killed in the strike.
“The Israeli enemy’s airstrike on a vehicle… resulted in one martyr,” the health ministry said in a statement.
Get The Times of Israel’s Daily Edition
by email and never miss our top stories
By signing up, you agree to the terms
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that it was a drone strike that “targeted an excavator with two missiles on the Kfar Dounine-Deir Kifa road”.
צה”ל חיסל מחבל מארגון הטרור חיזבאללה שניסה לשקם תשתיות טרור של הארגון בדרום לבנון
מוקדם יותר היום, צה”ל בהובלת פיקוד הצפון, תקף וחיסל באמצעות כלי טיס של חיל האוויר, מחבל מארגון הטרור חיזבאללה.
המחבל ניסה לשקם בעזרת כלי הנדסי, תשתיות טרור שהותקפו במהלך מבצע “חיצי צפון”, במרחב… pic.twitter.com/BFIB0VW1qz
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) October 18, 2025
Israel has destroyed hundreds of construction vehicles and other pieces of heavy machinery in recent weeks, in what it says is a policy aimed at eliminating Hezbollah’s ability to rebuild its infrastructure in southern Lebanon.
On Friday, the IDF said it killed a Hezbollah operative who was driving in the southern Lebanon town of Khirbet Selm. According to the IDF, the individual was involved in restoring Hezbollah military capabilities in the area.
A Hezbollah operative is targeted in a drone strike in the southern Lebanon town of Khirbet Selm, October 17, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)
IDF busts weapons smugglers
Later Friday, the army foiled an attempt to smuggle weapons from Syria into Lebanon in the Mount Hermon area, it said in a statement released Saturday.
Troops of the 810th “Mountains” Regional Brigade and field interrogators of the Intelligence Directorate’s Unit 504 detained several suspects near the peak of Mount Hermon during the overnight operation, the military said.
According to the IDF, the suspects were trying to smuggle grenades, handguns, RPGs and ammunition into Lebanon.
Weapons seized by IDF troops during an attempted smuggling from Lebanon into Syria, late October 17, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)
The suspects were taken for further questioning.
The IDF has been deployed to nine posts inside southern Syria since the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024, mostly within a UN-patrolled buffer zone on the border between the countries. Two posts are on the Syrian side of Mount Hermon.
Troops have been operating in areas up to around 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) deep into Syria, aiming to capture weapons that Israel says could pose a threat to the country if they fall into the hands of “hostile forces,” especially Hezbollah.
Troops of the Alon Reserve Infantry Brigade operate in the southern Lebanon town of Yaroun to demolish a building used by Hezbollah, late October 16, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)
Immediately after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that triggered the Gaza war, Hezbollah began launching rockets at Israel in support of its Palestinian ally.
Months of exchanges escalated into all-out war in September 2024, during which Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and many other top leaders were killed, before a ceasefire was eventually reached.
Weakened by the war and still facing regular Israeli strikes despite the truce, Hezbollah is now under internal and international pressure to hand over its weapons, with the Lebanese army having drawn up a plan to disarm it.
Is The Times of Israel important to you?
If so, we have a request.
Every day, even during war, our journalists keep you abreast of the most important developments that merit your attention. Millions of people rely on ToI for fast, fair and free coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
We care about Israel – and we know you do too. So today, we have an ask: show your appreciation for our work by joining The Times of Israel Community, an exclusive group for readers like you who appreciate and financially support our work.
Yes, I’ll give
Yes, I’ll give
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
You appreciate our journalism
You clearly find our careful reporting valuable, in a time when facts are often distorted and news coverage often lacks context.
Your support is essential to continue our work. We want to continue delivering the professional journalism you value, even as the demands on our newsroom have grown dramatically since October 7.
So today, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. For as little as $6 a month you’ll become our partners while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you,
David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
Join Our Community
Join Our Community
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
