Israel launches airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon

By Wassim Saifuldine

BEIRUT (AA) – Israel launched fresh airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon on Thursday, according to the military.

The army said its fighter jets struck two military buildings in the border towns of Kafr Kila and Zahajra. It said the attacks came in response to a rocket fire from the Lebanese territory.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency also reported an Israeli airstrike targeting a house and a coffee shop in Odaisseh town.

There were no reports yet of casualties or damage.

There was no comment from Hezbollah on the Israeli statement.

Tension has flared along the border between Lebanon and Israel amid intermittent exchanges of weapons fire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah, in the deadliest clashes since the two sides fought a full-scale war in 2006.

The escalation comes amid an Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip that has killed nearly 32,000 Palestinians following a Hamas attack last Oct. 7.

At least 300 people are estimated to have been killed in Lebanon, including 240 Hezbollah fighters, since the clashes erupted last October. Nearly 20 Israelis have been killed, according to Israeli figures.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala