Israel and Hezbollah continue to exchange blows without yet engaging in open warfare. The Hebrew army claims to have attacked in recent hours around 290 targets in southern Lebanon, in an exchange of fire in which Shiite militias also participated with several attacks against northern Israel after the Israeli army, in “a selective attack” against Beirut, killed 37 people.
“Over the past hour, we have launched numerous attacks in southern Lebanon, after detecting that Hezbollah was preparing to fire on Israeli territory,” military spokesman Daniel Hagari announced overnight.
Simultaneously, and due to growing insecurity, the army announced at 8:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m. GMT) new restrictions for the civilian population in the north of the country.
REUTERS
Lebanon
From the main city in the north of Haifathe third largest in the country, passing through the Galilee and some communities in the occupied Golan Heights, gatherings of more than 30 people outdoors and 300 indoors have been banned. In addition, any educational activity must have bunkers nearby.
Before this new wave of attacks, the Israeli military claimed to have bombed thousands of rocket-launching cannons in the neighboring country “ready for immediate use.” In addition, it said it had also destroyed about 290 “targets”a term that encompasses everything from Hezbollah militias to a military structure.
For its part, Hezbollah claims to have attacked Israeli Air Force Base Ramat David with dozens of missiles in response to “repeated Israeli attacks on Lebanon,” the group posted on its Telegram channel early Sunday.
Also, during this Saturday, the Shiite militias perpetrated at least nine attacks against northern Israel, supposedly directed against military outposts, barracks or bases, according to the group’s own communications in which they detail each attack.
Israel confirmed detecting the launch of some 90 rockets into its territory, which caused fires near the border – in an area that was almost deserted after the evacuation of some 60,000 Israelis from northern communities – and the burning of at least one house in Kadita.
Despite the increasing crossfire, there is no indication that, for the moment, Hezbollah is ready to start an all-out war with Israelalthough he promised a few days ago that he would give a “specific” response to the simultaneous and massive explosion of thousands of pagers in the hands of his members, followed yesterday by an attack in Beirut in which at least 16 of his men died, including the commanders.
The three days of Israeli attacks have provoked at least 37 dead and around 3,000 injuredaccording to Lebanese sources.
“Hezbollah’s military chain of command has been almost completely dismantled,” the military said in a statement today, showing the faces of half a dozen senior officials killed in 11 months of fighting against the Iran-affiliated militia.
“We will continue to operate against any terrorist organization that poses a threat to our civilians on all fronts,” the text added.
