South Lebanon: New Israeli Attacks and Threats
Clashes between Israel and Hezbollah continued along Lebanon's southern border on Thursday. Hezbollah announced the death of three of its fighters, while an Israeli civilian was killed in northern Israel by an anti-tank missile launched from southern Lebanon. In the evening, Hezbollah said it had targeted two Israeli soldiers who were installing military surveillance devices on a crane at the Rahab site, adding that the two soldiers were killed. For their part, the al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, announced the death of two of its fighters in South Lebanon.

The Israeli attacks were accompanied by new threats from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Visiting troops massed along the border on Thursday, he warned Hezbollah against escalation. "If Hezbollah chooses to launch an all-out war, it will turn Beirut and southern Lebanon, not far from here, into Gaza and Khan Yunis," he warned.

Israeli military aircraft carried out an airstrike targeting Wadi Saluki and the area between the towns of Kounin and Ainata. Students in Tebnin were injured by shards of glass during an Israeli raid on the town of Kounin. The raid also caused panic among local residents.

Israeli bombardments targeted the outskirts of Hula, Markaba, Alma al-Shaab, Tayr Harfa, Dhayra, Majdal Salim, Bayt Lif, Wadi Hamoul, Rab Thalathin, Bani Hayyan, Ramya and Wadi Darak. Hamames hill also came under Israeli bombardment in the early evening, resulting in the wounding of one person who was taken to the government hospital in Marjayoun. A missile fired by an Israeli drone hit a house east of the town of Chihine, causing no casualties. The Israeli army fired flares on the outskirts of Naqoura and targeted the areas around Yaroun, Maroun al-Ras and Khiam.


In another incident, a van carrying UNIFIL cleaners in the town of Rmeish was overturned, killing one person and injuring seven others. The accident occurred as the driver was trying to escape Israeli shelling.

In addition, an Israeli civilian was killed in northern Israel by an anti-tank missile fired from southern Lebanon and claimed by Hezbollah, the Israeli army and rescue services announced, quoted by AFP.

The strike hit the car in which the victim, a 60-year-old man, was traveling, near the town of Matat, not far from the Lebanese border, the same sources said. The Israeli army added that it had located the source of the shot and returned fire, pointing out that there had been "other shots fired from Lebanon towards Israel" on Thursday.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility and said it had used "appropriate weapons and caused confirmed casualties." It announced that it had targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in Khallet Wardah, as well as the sites of Bayad, Blida, Marj, Helta, and Ramim.
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