In a significant military maneuver, Israel reportedly executed a series of airstrikes across southern and northeastern Lebanon as the December 31 deadline looms for Hezbollah, a known terrorist entity, to disarm. These airstrikes are said to have targeted critical infrastructure and launch sites within a military compound used by Hezbollah for training and educational purposes, according to information from the Israeli military as reported by The Associated Press. Additionally, Israeli forces claimed to have hit Hezbollah facilities that were used to store weapons.

This military action comes just before a scheduled meeting of the committee overseeing the implementation of a U.S.-mediated ceasefire, which successfully ended hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah a year ago. This committee includes representatives from the United States, France, and the United Nations peacekeeping forces stationed along the Israel-Lebanon border.

An image captures smoke billowing from the location of these Israeli airstrikes near the village of al-Katrani in southern Lebanon on December 18, 2025. (Courtesy of Rabih Daher/AFP via Getty Images)

In a related diplomatic effort, officials from the United States, Saudi Arabia, and France are expected to convene with Lebanon’s army commander, General Rodolph Haikal. The discussions are anticipated to focus on strategies to enhance the Lebanese army’s presence and capabilities in the border regions, as reported by the AP.

Meanwhile, U.S., Saudi and French officials are set to participate in a meeting with Lebanon’s army commander, Gen. Rodolph Haikal. The group is expected to discuss ways to assist the Lebanese army in boosting its presence in the border area, according to the AP.

Hezbollah members salute and raise the group’s yellow flags during the funeral of their fallen comrades Ismail Baz and Mohamad Hussein Shohury, who were killed in an Israeli strike on their vehicles, in Shehabiya in south Lebanon on April 17, 2024.  (AFP via Getty Images)

The meeting in Paris is also meant to dissuade Israel from escalation, according to Reuters, which cited European and Lebanese diplomats and officials. The officials also said that there are concerns of political paralysis and party politics playing a role in the situation, and even possibly slowing Lebanese President Joseph Aoun from pressing for Hezbollah’s disarmament, as the country prepares for legislative elections in 2026.

The Lebanese government has said it anticipates that the army will have the border area south of the Litani River cleared of Hezbollah’s armed presence by the end of the year.

A view of the southern Lebanese town of Kfarkela as seen from the border of Israel, on Feb. 18, 2025.  (Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Speaker of the Parliament of Lebanon Nabih Berri said that the strikes were “an Israeli message to the Paris meeting,” according to the AP.

“The fire belt of Israeli airstrikes is to honor the mechanism’s meeting tomorrow,” Berri said during a parliament meeting in Beirut.

On Wednesday, Israel said it killed a Hezbollah terrorist operating in southern Lebanon. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the terrorist was collecting intelligence on the Israeli military’s activity in the area and “took part in Hezbollah’s attempts to reestablish its infrastructure.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the IDF for comment.