According to Israeli media reports, Sunday was the most violent day on the northern border since the attacks began on October 8.
A precarious calm prevailed on Sunday evening on the southern front, as surveillance aircraft flew over the caza of Tyre, as well as the western and central sectors.
The southern front flared up in the afternoon, following the death of two Israelis by a missile launched from southern Lebanon, injuring six others. According to Israeli media, this was the most violent day on Israel’s northern border, despite the warnings of Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who had stated the day before that “Hezbollah is making mistakes and dragging Lebanon towards a war that could break out, and for which the Lebanese will pay the price.”
In fact, according to some media reports, 23 Israelis were injured in Sunday’s attacks on Israel by Hezbollah and Hamas from southern Lebanon. Some are said to be in critical condition. Among the wounded are seven soldiers who were at the Manara position when mortar shells landed.
Six other Israeli civilians, including five who are in serious condition, were also targeted by an anti-tank missile fired by Hezbollah formation at the Doviv position. The Israeli army retaliated, shelling the source of the fire. According to Israeli sources, they were employees of the Electricity Office who were trying to repair damage caused by a previous Hezbollah attack on the same position.
In this context, Hezbollah announced on Sunday that it had attacked a group of Israelis in Tayhat-Roueissat al-Assi, as well as an infantry unit in Birkat Risha and the Zerit barracks. Earlier in the day, it had reported the death of one of its fighters, Hussein Ali Harb, from Sohmor in the Bekaa, and Jawad Hussam al-Bazzal, from the locality of al-Bzaliyeh, in the Bekaa.
In addition, more than 15 rockets were fired from southern Lebanon into Israel, where sirens sounded in the towns of Shlomi, Akka and Haifa. Seven Israeli soldiers were wounded in the fire, which was claimed by the military wing of Hamas, the Al-Qassam Brigades. In a statement, they announced that they had fired rockets at the north of Haifa, as well as at Shlomi and Naharaya.
In retaliation to these attacks, the Israeli army extended its bombardment zone to the outskirts of Nabatiyeh. It also stepped up its attacks on border towns and villages, calling them “terrorist” acts that “endanger Lebanon,” according to Israeli media reports.
In less than an hour, seven Israeli raids were carried out in the central and eastern sectors. The bombings targeted the villages of Jarmaq, Ali Taher, Al-Dabcheh, the Mahmoudiyeh perimeter, Aziyeh, Deir Mimas, Khardali, Qlaiya, Kfar Tebnit, Jarmaq, Zriqoun, Mchayrfeh and Labbouneh. A raid was also carried out in Houla, where a van parked near a house was targeted, as well as in Aita al-Shaab. Similarly, a house in Yaroun was targeted by Israeli bombs and one person was injured.
Shells also fell on the villages of Tibeh, Tayr Harfa and Bouayda, in the Marjayoun District. A guided missile was fired on the outskirts of Tallet al-Tahra.
Israel also dropped almost 100 phosphorus bombs on the border village of Yaroun, as well as on the villages of Mohaybeb and Blida. A flare also targeted the village of Ramya.
Moreover, the Israeli army announced that it had bombed several Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, as well as military infrastructures belonging to Hezbollah. “The cell that had fired an anti-tank missile at Israeli vehicles in Doviv earlier in the day was also targeted by the bombardment,” according to a statement from the Israeli army. In addition, seven Israeli soldiers were wounded by mortar shells fired from Lebanon at Kibbutz Manara, according to an army spokesman.
One Peacekeeper Wounded
After a night marked by a few hours’ respite, tension reigned in southern Lebanon on Sunday morning. In the course of the nightly exchange of artillery fire, a peacekeeper was wounded shortly after midnight on Saturday night, when shots rang out near his position in the area of Al-Qawza, Bint Jbeil District, according to a statement from UNIFIL. “The soldier has undergone surgery and is in stable condition,” stressed UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti, adding that “the origin of the shots is unknown” and that UNIFIL “has opened an investigation.”
“The targeting of areas close to UNIFIL positions is unacceptable,” insisted Tenenti. “It is also unacceptable to use our positions to launch attacks across the Blue Line.”
Addressing the parties concerned, he reminded them of their obligations to defend UNIFIL forces and “avoid endangering the lives of the men and women working to restore stability.” Attacks on civilians and UNIFIL personnel are violations of international law and can be considered war crimes,” Tenenti insisted. “We continue to urge all parties concerned to cease fire and ensure the safety of peacekeepers and any civilians living near the Blue Line.”
At dawn on Sunday, as Israeli surveillance planes flew over the hamlets of Shebaa and the villages of Arqoub, Israeli bombing resumed. Shells fell on the heights of Halta and Kfarchouba in the eastern sector, on Yaroun in the central sector, and on the outskirts of the villages of Chihine and Oum Touta in the western sector. A drone also dropped a shell on Tell Nahas, north of Kfar Kila.The Israeli army also fired flares at olive groves and forests in the Kfarchouba region. These flares, along with phosphorus bombs, have caused fires covering more than 4.6 million square meters since hostilities began on October 8.
