On Sunday, tensions flared in southern Lebanon as Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling targeted several towns, resulting in casualties and significant damage. In response, Hezbollah launched a series of retaliatory attacks on Israeli military positions. The escalations have led to the deaths of three Hezbollah fighters and injuries to Lebanese civilians, while Israeli Army reported that 18 Israeli soldiers were wounded, one seriously, in drone explosion in the northern Golan Heights.
The Israeli Army also announced that Israeli fighter jets attacked Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, including an observation post in the area of Markaba and a launch pad in the Aita al-Shaab area, from where a rocket was launched on Sunday into northern Israel.
An Israeli drone strike killed three fighters of Hezbollah in Hula, on Sunday morning, after targeting a house in the town, causing extensive damage.
This attack was preceded by artillery shelling in the town. Later in the day, Hezbollah announced the death of its fighters, Nasrat Hussein Sheqeir, Jalal Ali Daher and Hussein Mohammad Soueidan.
Following this strike, the Israeli army reportedly instructed settlers in Ma’ayan Baruch in the north to “stay close to fortified areas,” as a precaution, according to Israeli media. They also reported that “in Israel, they are preparing for missile volleys following the latest attack on Hula.”
Subsequently, the Israeli army expanded its artillery campaign, targeting the areas of Kafr Kila and the Dabaka neighborhood, northeast of the town of Mays al-Jabal.
Later, the Israeli army announced that a shell fired from Lebanon landed in an open area near Beit Hillel, causing no injuries or damage.
The Israeli Army further stated that its warplanes attacked operational and military infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah in the areas of Taybeh and Rab Thalatheen in southern Lebanon.
An Israeli artillery shell also targeted a house in Kfar Kila, but the owner escaped unharmed.
Hezbollah retaliated for the attacks on Hula by targeting the headquarters of the 91st Division in the Branit barracks with a heavy Burkan missile, causing partial destruction and confirmed casualties. Additionally, Hezbollah targeted the headquarters of the Sahel Battalion in the Beit Halal barracks with a Falaq missile, again causing partial destruction and confirmed casualties.
Hezbollah targeted a building used by Israeli soldiers in the Metulla settlement in response to the Israeli attack on Taybeh. The pro-iranian faction also announced an aerial attack using a squadron of swoop drones on the headquarters of the armored battalions of the 188th Brigade in Rawiya barracks, which resulted in fires and confirmed casualties.
Commenting on the escalating situation, the Israeli Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, declared that “a swift and decisive war with Hezbollah is inevitable.” He added, “I do not underestimate the expected cost of a war with Lebanon, but the price we pay today will be far less than what we will pay if we do not act.”
On Saturday night, Israeli warplanes broke the sound barrier over most Lebanese areas in the South, reaching as far as Saida, Beirut and the Western Bekaa in two waves, and four times in the Bekaa Valley. It was reported that large parts of a ceiling in a house in Harouf collapsed due to the sound barrier, resulting in minor injuries.
The Israeli warplanes also broke the sound barrier over Nabatieh and Iqlim al-Tuffah, flying at a low altitude.
