Israel deploys Apache attack helicopters in southern Lebanon as escalation intensifies, Lebanese media say

An Israeli Apache helicopter struck a building housing shops on the Mayfadoun–Shoukin road in the Nabatieh district on Sunday morning, hitting the same location a second time and forcing rescuers to withdraw, while a house in Qabrikha in the Marjayoun district was also targeted by an Apache, L’Orient Today reported. Lebanese media described the strikes as the first reported use of attack helicopters in Israel’s ongoing daily strikes on southern Lebanon. Hezbollah has not commented, and there was no immediate information on casualties or damage.

The Israeli army said its Saturday-night strikes were retaliation for a “booby-trapped drone” launched by Hezbollah towards its troops, which caused no casualties. IDF Arabic-language spokesperson Ella Waweya said targets included sites used to launch explosive drones and anti-tank missiles, as well as other infrastructure.

The helicopter strikes followed a night of extensive Israeli operations across the south: warplane strikes on Kfar Tebnit and the area between Nabatieh Fawqa and Mayfadoun around 2am; strikes on Khiam, Kfar Shuba and Kfar Tibnit; artillery on Zawtar Sharqieh, Dohat Kfar Roummane and Wadi Slouqi; machine-gun fire on Beit Yahoun and Srebbine; and a four-vehicle Israeli force entering the outskirts of Halta and Kfar Shuba with flares.

On Sunday morning a Merkava tank also fired four shells at Haddatha in the Bint Jbeil district before soldiers headed to a shopping centre in the locality and set fire to the premises, while artillery hit the Haddatha–Haris area, Aitaroun and Mansouri. On Saturday, Israeli strikes outside the occupied zones hit Sojod in the Jezzine district — which the IDF called a “Hezbollah arms depot” — and Jabal al-Rafih with a drone-fired missile.

Sources

• L’Orient Today: “Israel targets several localities after Hezbollah launches ‘booby-trapped drone’” (27 September 2026) — https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1548798/israel-targets-several-localities-after-hezbollah-launches-booby-trapped-drone.html
• Shafaq News: “Israeli Apache helicopter strikes southern Lebanon for first time” (27 September 2026) — https://shafaq.com/en/Middle-East/Israeli-Apache-helicopter-strikes-southern-Lebanon-for-first-time
• Pakistan TV (Lebanon’s NNA): “Israel launches major airstrikes, heavy artillery campaign across southern Lebanon” (27 September 2026) — https://pakistantv.com/article/middle-east-live-september-27-2026
• QNA via Fana News: “Israel Continues Attacks on Southern Lebanon” (27 September 2026) — https://www.fananews.com/language/en/israel-continues-attacks-on-southern-lebanon/