BEIRUT: Hostilities between Hezbollah and the Israeli army in southern Lebanon have escalated after 75 days of exchanges.
An Israeli strike killed an elderly woman and wounded her husband in their Lebanon home on Thursday, with further bombing reported north of the Litani River.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah targeted the Kiryat Shmona settlement in Israel early on Thursday and continued rocket attacks throughout the day. Israeli media claimed five people were injured at settlements hit in Doviv and Avivim.
Some political observers have warned that the ongoing military operations could lead to all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah.
In a statement, Hezbollah said the settlements were attacked in “response to the Israeli targeting of villages and houses of civilians, which killed a citizen and wounded her husband.”
Nouhad Moussa Mhanna, 75, died and her husband Majed, 80, was taken to hospital after their home in the Lebanese village of Maroun Al-Ras was struck during Israeli shelling of the area.
Hezbollah warned that it would “not tolerate the harming of civilians, nor the invasion of our villages and towns,” adding that it would “respond to any attack by bombing settlements in northern-occupied Palestine.”
Also on Thursday, Hezbollah claimed “direct hits” by drones it launched toward Israeli bases in the “occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms.”
On Wednesday, the Israeli bombardment went deeper into Lebanon with an area surrounding Kfar Melki in Sidon coming under attack. Prior to that, a house in the town of Markaba was destroyed in a strike that killed one of the building’s inhabitants.
Other Israeli air raids hit areas around Iqlim Al-Tuffah, Jezzine, the outskirts of east Sidon, and forests near Jbaa.
An Israeli artillery attack on the outskirts of Naqoura triggered sirens to go off at the headquarters of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon. Warplanes fired three air-to-ground missiles at an abandoned house in the town of Kfar Kila, while artillery pounded the outskirts of Maroun Al-Ras, Aitaroun, Yaroun, and Aita Al-Shaab.
There were also reports of Israeli military incendiary devices igniting wooded areas of Jabal Al-Labouneh, Al-Alam, and Alma Al-Shaab.
Following a security evaluation, Israeli authorities closed several settlements near the Lebanese border, restricting entry and exit until further notice. Those affected were Snir, Dan, Dafna, Kfar Giladi, Maskafaam, Manara, Yiftah, Al-Malikiyya, Param, and Sasa.
Residents were urged to “reduce traffic” while intersections and main streets in the area were shut.
In Beirut, the Central Security Council held a meeting to discuss a security plan for the holiday season, announcing the deployment of 462 officers, 6,872 other personnel, and the operation of 292 patrols in the regions.
