Israeli Strike in Lebanon Kills Islamic Jihad Operatives

An Israeli airstrike in eastern Lebanon on Sunday, February 15, 2026, resulted in the deaths of four individuals identified as members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terror group. The strike occurred in the town of Majdal Anjar, located in the Beqaa Valley near the Syrian border, according to Lebanese authorities and confirmation from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Details of the Strike

The IDF stated the operation targeted Islamic Jihad operatives. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that an Israeli drone struck a car in Majdal Anjar, killing the four occupants. The Lebanese health ministry subsequently confirmed the death toll [Source: Times of Israel]. One of the deceased has been identified as Syrian national Khaled Mohammad al-Ahmad, according to Lebanese media [Source: ABP Live].

Context of the Attack

Even as Israeli strikes in Lebanon frequently target Hezbollah operatives and infrastructure, attacks specifically targeting Islamic Jihad are less common [Source: Times of Israel]. This strike marks the first publicly claimed Israeli attack in Lebanon against Islamic Jihad since a November 2024 ceasefire intended to de-escalate over a year of cross-border hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah [Source: ABP Live].

Despite the ceasefire, Israel has continued intermittent strikes in Lebanon, often stating the targets were Hezbollah fighters. Though, Palestinian factions allied with Hezbollah, including Islamic Jihad and Hamas, have also been targeted at times [Source: ABP Live].

Islamic Jihad’s Role and IDF Assessments

Islamic Jihad, alongside Hamas, participated in the October 7, 2023, terror attacks against Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people. The group has also been involved in attacks on Israel originating from Lebanon in coordination with Hezbollah [Source: Times of Israel].

IDF assessments indicate that approximately 2,400 members of Hezbollah’s Radwan force, along with an additional 500 Islamic Jihad terrorists trained by Radwan, were positioned in southern Lebanon villages prepared to attack Israel following the October 7th invasion from Gaza [Source: Times of Israel].

Strategic Significance

The targeted highway, the Beirut-Damascus road, is a critical logistical route for the movement of personnel and weaponry between Lebanon and Syria, and is used by various terror groups operating under Iranian patronage [Source: JFeed]. The IDF views neutralizing senior members of these groups as a priority.