Israeli airstrike kills 1, injures 2 in southern Lebanon

By Stephanie Rady

BEIRUT (AA) – One person was killed and two others were injured in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon on Monday, the Lebanese Health Ministry said.

The attack targeted the border town of Houla, the state-run National News Agency reported.

Israeli artillery shelling was also reported in the towns of Wadi Hassan and Chihine, but no reports were yet available about injuries.

The Israeli army said early Monday that it had struck Hezbollah structures in Houla after a rocket fire into northern Israel.

Hezbollah, for its part, said it targeted with missiles a deployment of Israeli forces in Metula in northern Israel and the Baraka Risha post with artillery shelling.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed for a large-scale military operation against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, a position opposed by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

Israeli Northern Command chief Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin called during private meetings for authorization for a ground offensive in southern Lebanon to create a buffer zone there under Israeli control, Israel Hayom newspaper reported on Monday.

Tensions have mounted along Lebanon's border with Israel amid cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israeli forces as Tel Aviv pressed ahead with an offensive against Gaza, which has killed over 41,200 people since last October following a Hamas attack.