BEIRUT: A military convoy of the Lebanese army in the border village of Aytaroun has reportedly come under fire from Israeli forces, but no casualties were reported.
Clashes between the two sides have intensified on the southern front after significant de-escalation for just one day.
Hezbollah announced on Friday that it had targeted the Israeli military outpost of Misgav Am — which faces the Lebanese village of Al-Adayseh — with guided missiles, “damaging part of its equipment.”
Hezbollah also said it attacked “Al-Sadah outpost with guided missiles, destroying large parts of its installations and equipment and inflicting confirmed casualties among its soldiers.”
Israeli operations are still taking place in the border region with reconnaissance planes flying over the area amid fears of infiltration on the ground by Hezbollah.
A guided missile was launched from southern Lebanon toward the Al-Manara settlement on Friday morning and Israeli soldiers urged the settlement’s residents to remain in shelters. Israeli warplanes replied by targeting the outskirts of the southern Lebanese village of Mhaibib with two missiles.
Earlier, Israeli forces had targeted an area adjacent to the Blue Line — between the towns of Al-Dhayra, Aalma Al-Shaab, Naqoura, and Aayta Al-Shaab — with phosphorus bombs, setting trees on fire.
A military observer said: “Israeli forces dropped internationally prohibited phosphorus bombs on purpose so the field could be exposed, and in order to use the burned area to monitor the movement of Hezbollah’s members hiding amid dense trees.”
About 600 families from the border region have fled to Sahel Al-Zahrani and are now scattered across 18 villages.
The Lebanese National News Agency reported: “About 400 mattresses and 400 blankets have been secured for distribution to displaced persons in cooperation with the Lebanese Red Cross.”
Some 50 members of Hezbollah have been killed in confrontations with Israeli forces in the wake of the start of Hamas’ Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on Oct. 7.
Mohammed Raad, the head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, said the group “defends the country and protects our security.”
Clerics suggested on Friday that sacrifices should be “met with a solution to the presidential election file, in order to save Lebanon.”
The country’s presidency has been unoccupied for almost a year, as parliament — divided between Hezbollah’s supporters and national sovereignty advocates — has been unable to elect a new president.
Sheikh Ali Al-Khatib, vice president of the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council, said: “The situation in the region is dangerous and requires Lebanese to put aside their political disputes and work together to protect national unity by quickly forming a political safety net that protects Lebanon and achieves the political stability required at this critical stage.
“They should quickly agree on electing a president that unites all the Lebanese and reactivates public institutions, in preparation for the formation of an emergency rescue government that addresses crises and problems and strengthens Lebanon’s resilience to threats.”
Grand Jaafari Mufti Sheikh Ahmad Kabalan said: “There’s no place for compromise when it comes to the presidential election file and securing national political interests.
“The presidential election file should be dealt with sovereignly.”
Meanwhile, the Iranian Embassy in Lebanon has reported that a delegation from Tehran arrived in Beirut on Friday and met representatives of Palestinian factions.
