In a deadly Israeli airstrike on Monday, at least 18 people were killed and several others injured in the predominantly Christian town of Aytou, located in northern Lebanon.
The attack, which occurred in the northern region of the country, resulted in widespread destruction, and rescue operations are ongoing as emergency teams continue to search through rubble for survivors.
The airstrike is part of a broader escalation of violence in Lebanon’s southern and northern regions. Israeli jets also targeted the towns of Ali al-Nahri, Massa, and Brital in the Bekaa Valley on the same day, marking a sharp rise in hostilities along Lebanon’s southern border with Israel.
Hezbollah, the militant group based in Lebanon, has claimed responsibility for multiple rocket attacks on Israeli military sites in retaliation for Israel’s military actions.
These included a targeted strike on a military base in Haifa, located in northern Israel, which reportedly followed an earlier drone attack that left four Israeli soldiers dead.
Hezbollah also claimed responsibility for launching a “precision” missile strike on the Stella Maris naval base near Haifa.
In a statement, Hezbollah announced that it had fired multiple rockets at Israeli troops in the border town of Maroun al-Ras in southern Lebanon, where Israeli ground operations have been ongoing since late September.
The group said its fighters targeted an Israeli military gathering in the area, which has seen increased clashes between Hezbollah forces and Israeli troops in recent days.
Earlier reports indicated that rockets were fired from Lebanon towards Haifa and its surrounding areas, although the Israeli military confirmed that these missiles fell in open areas and caused no significant damage. At the same time, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a confrontation with Israeli forces as they attempted to cross into southern Lebanon, resulting in casualties among Israeli troops.
This marked a significant uptick in hostilities, with heavy clashes between Hezbollah militants and Israeli soldiers reported in areas such as the towns of Kherbit and Khalet al-Tuffah, using both artillery and heavy weapons.
The conflict has seen a pattern of attacks and counterattacks, with Hezbollah fighters actively engaging Israeli units attempting to infiltrate Lebanon’s southern territories.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Iron Dome defense system intercepted several missiles fired from southern Lebanon towards northern Israel, especially around Haifa.
The Israeli military has said that it is focusing on targeting Hezbollah’s infrastructure, and the Israeli government recently confirmed the destruction of several Hezbollah tunnels and military sites.
In the latest developments, Israeli forces have claimed that more than 100 Hezbollah fighters have been killed and that the military has successfully destroyed significant portions of Hezbollah’s underground networks, including numerous bunkers and combat posts.
Despite the continued fighting, reports from Israeli officials suggest that there has been no official decision to halt the airstrikes over Beirut, despite prior claims suggesting a pause in attacks following requests from US President Joe Biden.
Israeli military authorities have reiterated that all of Lebanon remains a military target for Israeli forces as long as hostilities continue.
