Increasing Casualties in the South as UNIFIL Reports Attacks on Peacekeepers
UNIFIL vehicles in southern Lebanon. ©Al Markazia

On Friday evening, the Israeli army carried out a series of airstrikes against two neighborhoods in Bourj Brajneh and Haret Hreik, in the southern suburbs of Beirut, after calling on their inhabitants to leave the area half an hour earlier.
The warning had been issued, as it had been practically every evening since September 23, by the Israeli army's Arabic-speaking spokesman, Avichai Adraee, on his X account. 
During the day, incessant shelling hit southern Lebanon and the Bekaa, as UNIFIL reported additional attacks on peacekeepers.

Following the ongoing fire exchange in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL issued a statement on Friday, affirming that their peacekeepers continue to monitor and report to the Security Council on the situation in southern Lebanon, “despite the dramatic escalation and violence on the ground in recent weeks.”

UNIFIL also sounded the alarm, stating that “the security situation is extremely challenging,” revealing that extensive measures are taken to protect the peacekeepers.

“Early in the morning on 23 October, two medevac teams meeting at Yarine to transfer a patient came under fire of unknown origin,” the statement added, revealing that one vehicle was immobilized and had to be left at the scene.

“In the evening that same day, a medical facility at a UNIFIL position in Bayt Lif was hit by a shell or rocket of unknown origin,” it continued.

In addition, UNIFIL declared that two shells or rockets, also of unknown origin, impacted near its position in Kfarchouba, causing damage to living accommodations and shelters.

“Fortunately, no peacekeepers were hurt in any of these incidents,” the statement disclosed, urging “all actors involved in the conflict to resolve their differences at the negotiating table.”

Southern Lebanon and Bekaa

As a cautious calm prevailed in the southern suburbs of Beirut after a series of raids on Thursday night, the situation was different in southern Lebanon. An Israeli drone attack on a car on Qasmiya-Burj Rahal highway killed the driver.

Afterwards, Israeli fighter jets raided a building in Khirbet Selm causing 4 deaths and 4 injuries.

Moreover, a house in Bazouriyeh was bombarded and 3 people were reported dead.

Israeli warplanes also targeted Kounine, in the caza of Bint Jbeil, while violent shelling accompanied by heavy artillery was reported in the town of Khiam.

A person was killed in Kfardounine after a large wave of air attacks on a dozen villages, including Kfarasir, Majdel Zoun, Anqoun, Taybeh, Tayr Deba, al-Jarmak, Nabatiyeh Al-Fawqa, Jibshit, Aaba, Bazouriyeh, Al-Tiri, Beit Yahun, Ghandouriyeh and the outskirts of Yanouh.

The Islamic Health Authority in Khirbet Selm was the target of Israeli bombing after two strikes targeted the course of the Litani River northwest of Al-Buwayda, causing a fire in the Bayt Rashid farm where olive trees are located.

Additionally, Israeli artillery targeted the villages of Dhayra, Zebqine, Tayr Harfa, the outskirts of Alma al-Shaab, Yarine, Marwahin, Aita al-Shaab and Ramya.

The Israeli army launched phosphorous shells on the border areas of the western sector, which resulted in fires in forests and olive crops.

Earlier on Friday, Israeli forces attempted a ground incursion through Aitaroun resulting in clashes between them and Hezbollah.

In the Bekaa, three persons were killed in an Israeli airstrike. A drone strike targeted the Qasr Naba crossroads, as well as Sohmor after a precarious calm had prevailed for several hours.

Israel

Nine people were wounded early on Friday evening, as reported by Israeli emergency services, according to Haaretz, after rockets were fired from Lebanon at Majd al-Krum in northern Israel.
According to The Times of Israel, “three are in critical condition and one is seriously wounded.” In addition, the Israeli army reports that “around thirty rockets were fired in the attack.”
Earlier, Haaretz reported that “several people were injured” when a rocket fell in the Shomera region.
A total of 19 rockets were fired from south Lebanon into Israeli territories. The Israeli Channel 12 indicated that rocket fire from southern Lebanon towards the western Galilee resulted in damaging the power grid.

In parallel, sirens sounded in Acre, Haifa, Alma, Dishon and Malkiya in the Western Galilee, after 5 rockets were fired from southern Lebanon towards Haifa, where some of them were intercepted and explosions were heard in the sky of the city.

Hezbollah

For its part, Hezbollah announced in a series of statements that its operatives targeted the Carmel base south of Haifa with a “qualitative rocket salvo.”

The pro-Iranian group also claimed targeting a gathering of Israeli forces in the Manara settlement and the Habbushit site with rocket weaponry.

Gatherings of Israeli soldiers in the Malkiya settlement and in the outskirts of Marwahin were also targeted with guided missiles by Hezbollah.

On Friday afternoon, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for launching “an aerial attack with a squadron of swoop drones on the Filon base (headquarters and emergency stores of the 36th and 210th divisions) east of the city of Safed,” and “achieving precise targets.”

 

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