Lebanon’s Hezbollah, Israel trade heavy cross-border fire amid escalation

By Wassim Saifuldine

BEIRUT (AA) – Tension escalated along Lebanon’s border with Israel on Monday amid an exchange of heavy fire between Hezbollah and Israeli forces.

Hezbollah said its fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in Jal al-Alam in southern Lebanon, resulting in “direct hits.”

The Lebanese group used its Falaq-1 missile in the attack, for the first time since clashes with Israeli forces erupted on Oct. 8.

The Falaq-1 missile is a 240-millimeter caliber rocket with a range of up to 10.5 kilometers. It carries high-explosive warheads.

Hezbollah said it also targeted the Israeli Metula site with “appropriate weapons” and a gathering of soldiers near the Metat base with missiles. It also shelled the Brannit barracks and the Haddab Yarin and Birkit Risha sites, inflicting direct hits.

Israeli forces, meanwhile, carried out strikes in the border town of Kfarkel with white phosphorus shells, according to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency.

Israeli artillery shelling was also reported in the towns of Marwahin, Aita al-Shaab, Dahiyeh, Alma al-Shaab and Rmeish.

There was no information yet about casualties.

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

The border tension comes amid Israel’s deadly offensive in the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio