Israeli army says it targeted Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon

JERUSALEM

The Israeli army said Tuesday that it launched airstrikes against southern Lebanon, targeting locations associated with the Lebanon resistance group, Hezbollah, group following rocket attacks on northern.

A military statement said fighter jets attacked a building and a weapons depot in the Kfarkela area where a Hezbollah cell was spotted entering.

It said an Israeli drone killed armed Hezbollah fighters after they were observed leaving the area from where rockets were launched toward the Misgav Am area in Upper Galilee in northern Israel early Tuesday.

Warplanes bombed military buildings belonging to Hezbollah in Ayta al-Shaab and a rocket launch site in the Abu Shash area, according to the military.

“Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in the Golan Heights, approximately 20 projectiles were identified crossing from Lebanon, all of which fell in open areas. No injuries were reported,” according to a separate statement from the army.

“Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in the Galilee panhandle, approximately 10 projectiles were identified crossing from Lebanon, most of which were intercepted and the rest fell in open areas. No injuries were reported,” it said. “Israel Fire and Rescue Services are currently operating to extinguish fires that were ignited after projectiles fell in the area.”

Fears have grown about a full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah amid a months-long exchange of cross-border fire.

The escalation comes against the backdrop of an Israeli onslaught against the Gaza Strip which has killed more than 39,600 victims since October following an attack by the Palestine resistance group, Hamas.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio in Istanbul