An Israeli bombardment of the village of Khiam, in southern Lebanon, on March 4, 2026. RABIH DAHER/AFP
The Lebanese town of Khiam was the scene of fierce fighting between the Israeli army and Hezbollah in the fall of 2024. It saw renewed clashes on Wednesday, March 4. Direct combat erupted there for the first time since the war resumed on Monday, according to a statement by Hezbollah. The group said fighting also took place further west, in the locality of Dhaira.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) confirmed the presence of Israeli forces in several villages and localities along the border strip, including Houla, Kfar Kila, Kfar Chouba, Yaroun and Khiam. The Israeli army, which was already present at five positions it refused to vacate, in violation of the November 2024 ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, began advancing on Tuesday, moving more than one kilometer deep, supported by massive bombardments of border villages.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that his army "is now mandated to advance and take control of new positions in Lebanon to prevent fire on border communities." Israeli military spokesperson, Brigadier General Effie Defrin said: "Northern Command has moved forward, taken control of the dominating terrain, and is creating a buffer, as we promised, between our residents and any threat."
