Israel conducted precision airstrikes on January 5-6, 2026, targeting Hezbollah and Hamas weapon storage sites in southern Lebanon, including a commercial building in Sidon, and eastern regions like al-Manara and Jezzine, resulting in at least two injuries but no fatalities. These strikes, issued after evacuation warnings, precede Lebanon’s cabinet meeting today, January 8, where army chief Gen. Rudolph Haikal will brief on Phase 1 disarmament south of the Litani River, originally due by end-2025 amid the November 2024 ceasefire terms. President Joseph Aoun condemned the actions as sabotaging state control efforts. From an Indian strategic lens, Israel’s moves counter Iran-backed threats akin to those India faces from Pakistan-based proxies, bolstering regional stability vital for energy routes and counter-terror pacts, though escalation risks broader Middle East instability impacting New Delhi’s security calculus.​