IDF continues fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon, as Iran negotiations collapse

While the Iran ceasefire appears to be holding despite the collapse of negotiations with the U.S. in Pakistan, the IDF continues its military operations in Lebanon, aimed at removing Hezbollah’s ability to threaten northern Israel. 

On Sunday morning, the IDF said it had identified and destroyed a loaded, ready-to-fire rocket launcher near Jouaiyya in southern Lebanon on Saturday night, preventing Hezbollah from launching rockets at Israeli territory.

⭕️DISMANTLED: A rocket launcher positioned and ready to launch toward Israel in the area of Jouaiyya in southern Lebanon. The launcher was struck before the launch could be carried out. pic.twitter.com/U0QKCQXTqC

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 12, 2026

Lebanese media reported several Israeli strikes on Saturday and on Sunday morning that were not reported by the IDF. 

Lebanon's National News Agency reported six people killed in an Israeli strike in Maaroub, near Tyre. The report did not distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths. 

A couple of hours later, the agency reported an additional five people killed and several wounded in another strike in the town of Qana, in southern Lebanon. 

#بالفيديو | آثار الدمار جراء العدوان الإسرائيلي الذي استهدف بلدة قانا #جنوب_لبنان. #الميادين_لبنان #لبنان pic.twitter.com/0ZkOVUiGV3

— الميادين لبنان (@mayadeenlebanon) April 12, 2026

Additionally, the IDF said it eliminated Hezbollah terrorists responsible for killing IDF Staff Sergeant Touvel Yosef Lifshiz during the fighting on April 7. 

Over the weekend, Israeli soldiers identified a terrorist armed with an AK-47 and a number of magazines, before attacking his position and killing him. 

In the same building where the terrorist was located, soldiers also discovered the body of another terrorist killed during the April encounter in which Sgt. Lifshiz was shot.

Later in the day, Lebanese media reported “fierce clashes” between the IDF and Hezbollah in the town of Bint Jbeil, which Israeli forces began encircling on Thursday. 

Bint Jbeil, located about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the border, is the site where former Hezbollah Sec.-Gen. Hassan Nasrallah delivered a victory speech in 2000, celebrating the Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon after almost two decades, following the 1982 invasion to fight Palestinian terrorism there. 

On Sunday, the IDF said its soldiers discovered a Hezbollah weapons cache inside a hospital in Bint Jbeil. 

Several Hezbollah terrorists were spotted conducting surveillance on Israeli soldiers from a hospital window and firing toward troops in the area. After identifying the threat, the soldiers eliminated them. 

Additionally, the military said that about 20 terrorists were killed within the hospital compound. 

🎥WATCH: Weapons cache discovered inside a hospital used by Hezbollah for terrorist activity in Bint Jbeil.

Several Hezbollah terrorists were identified conducting surveillance from a hospital window and firing toward IDF soldiers in the area, and following identification of… pic.twitter.com/GCnpIumFUO

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 12, 2026

After searching the hospital compound, the IDF reported that Hezbollah had used the facility to transfer and store weapons, as well as for observation posts, concealment positions, and shelter for operatives, and had fired on Israeli soldiers from the hospital.

The military said Hezbollah has systematically and continuously used the hospital compound and its immediate vicinity for military purposes, in a blatant violation of international law.  

Some local analysts believe Israel is trying to clear Hezbollah from Bint Jbeil before the start of peace talks with the Lebanese government, which are expected to begin within the coming days. 

The IDF estimates it has killed close to 2,000 Hezbollah terrorists since the start of military operations in southern Lebanon, shortly after the start of the Iran war on Feb. 28.