Renewed Israeli Hostilities in Southern Lebanon Leave Two Dead and Seven Injured
In a recent escalation of tensions, two people were killed and seven others injured in renewed Israeli hostilities in several towns in southern Lebanon. The Israeli army claimed that one of the casualties was the head of Iran-backed Hezbollah’s anti-tank rocket unit. The violence began when an Israeli drone targeted a motorcycle in the town of Jouaiyya, hitting a passing car and injuring those inside.
The Ministry of Health’s emergency operations center reported that Hassan Fares Jeshi, a member of Hezbollah, and a civilian named Mohammed Hassan Shoumar were killed in the attack. Four others were also injured. The Israeli army confirmed that Hassan Fares was the commander of Hezbollah’s anti-tank rocket unit.
Following the initial attack, Israeli artillery shelling and air raids continued to target border towns known for their loyalty to Hezbollah. The towns of Blida, Tayr Harfa, Khiam, Jebbayn, Chihine, Majdelyoun, Naqoura, Zibqin, Chaqra, Baraachit, Halta, Kounine, Mhaibib, and Kfarkela were all hit in these attacks.
The emergency operations center also reported that the town of Shebaa was targeted with phosphorus artillery shelling, causing a citizen to suffer from suffocation and requiring hospitalization. In response, Hezbollah targeted several Israeli military sites with artillery shells and missile weapons.
In addition to the attacks on the ground, Israeli warplanes breached the sound barrier for the second consecutive day over Beirut. Similar breaches were reported in the cities of Sidon and Jezzine, as well as other parts of southern Lebanon. Videos of the planes breaching Lebanese airspace were shared on social media, causing panic among the inhabitants of Beirut and surrounding areas.
The escalation of violence comes after Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah declared that a response to the assassination of Fuad Shukr, a prominent military leader of the group, was “inevitable.” Nasrallah’s statement was made in the wake of the assassination of Hamas’ political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, just hours after Shukr’s death in the southern suburbs of Beirut.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant emphasized that the Israeli army is constantly developing its defensive and offensive capabilities in response to the escalating tensions. Meanwhile, leaflets were dropped in predominantly Druze regions, particularly in the Choueifat area, bearing pictures of the children who were victims of the Majdal Shams attack in the occupied Golan. The leaflets carried the message, “We will avenge them, Hezbollah.”
Israel has accused Hezbollah of shelling the soccer field in Majdal Shams, resulting in the deaths of 12 people. However, Hezbollah strongly denies responsibility for the attack. Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt has expressed his support for the Iran-backed group.
The situation in southern Lebanon remains tense as both sides exchange fire and rhetoric. The international community has called for restraint and a de-escalation of tensions to prevent further loss of life and damage. However, with the recent assassinations and ongoing hostilities, it is uncertain how the situation will unfold in the coming days.