Israeli army claims hitting Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon

By Said Amouri

JERUSALEM (AA) - The Israeli army on Friday announced carrying out a series of airstrikes on the Hezbollah group targets in southern Lebanon.

In a statement, the Israeli army claimed it struck Hezbollah military assets, including rocket launchers, military buildings and military infrastructure in southern Lebanon.

The airstrikes took place in the towns of Mays al-Jabal, Ayta al-Shaab, in addition to earlier airstrikes on the Yaroun town.

Hezbollah has yet to comment on the Israeli statement.

The Israeli airstrikes came shortly after Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant threatened to expand the campaign against Hezbollah and increase the rate of attacks in the north.

Speaking after an evaluation at the army Northern Command in Safed, Gallant asserted: "Israel is transitioning from defense to pursuit of Hezbollah; we will reach wherever the organization operates, in Beirut, Damascus, and beyond," the Times of Israel news website cited him as saying.

In recent developments, a senior Hezbollah commander was killed in an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon, while five other Hezbollah operatives were reportedly among the 38 casualties in alleged Israeli airstrikes in Aleppo, Syria.

Tension has flared between the Lebanese group Hezbollah and Israel along the shared border since the Oct. 7 cross-border incursion by the Palestinian group Hamas, triggering the war in Gaza.

Over 261 Hezbollah fighters have been killed by the Israeli army since clashes erupted in October. Nearly 20 Israelis have been killed, according to Israeli figures.

The current escalation is said to be the deadliest since the 2006 Lebanon war.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar