BEIRUT: An Israeli combat drone targeted a motorcycle in the border town of Mays Al-Jabal on Wednesday, killing its rider, a Hezbollah member, and injuring another.
Hostilities between the Israeli army and Hezbollah intensified after the attack.
Throughout Tuesday night, the border area witnessed reciprocal strikes, which residents described as some of the most intense operations since the mobilization of the southern front about a year ago.
The escalation coincided with the arrival in Beirut of Josep Borrell Fontelles, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
The border situation is expected to be on the agenda during his meetings with Lebanese officials.
At dawn, Israeli warplanes carried out more than 15 airstrikes that targeted the wooded area and orchards between the outskirts of Zibqin and Qlaileh towns, creating a ring of fire.
Video footage revealed the screams of children inside homes and the prayers of elders amid the rocking explosions nearby.
Israeli warplanes also attacked the outskirts of the towns of Yater and Rashaya Al-Fakhar, the orchards and valleys near the towns of Qlaileh, Zibqin, Al-Ḥaniyya, Majdal Zoun and Tayr Harfa, and the outskirts of the towns of Deir Seryan and Zawtar. Al-Charkieh. Warplanes also carried out a raid on Naqoura.
Two Israeli drones exploded in the park of Maroun Al-Ras village, causing damage to the facilities.
The Israeli army spokesman announced that it “targeted in four different areas in southern Lebanon about 30 Hezbollah rocket launchers and military structures that posed a threat to the citizens of Israel.” Their forces also targeted the Dhayra area in southern Lebanon with artillery shells.
The rocket attacks have raised questions about why Israel has been targeting the valleys daily for about two weeks.
Political analyst Ali Amin told Arab News that “despite the challenges the Israeli military faces in its conflict with Hezbollah, it appears to be preparing for a protracted war. It (the Israeli army) previously revealed the mobilization of the Mountain Brigade and intends to separate the eastern and western (mountain) ranges of southern Lebanon.”
Al-Amin, a resident of the border area, said: “The forested areas that have been bombed for two weeks are known to be off-limits to ordinary people and contain Hezbollah military bases, making it almost impossible to move into them.
“Israel, following the breakdown of technological communication between members of the party (Hezbollah) and its leadership, is actively working to fragment the southern region and put it under constant surveillance.”
He said an increased level of shelling in forests and valleys, along with a failure to protect civilians in Hezbollah's targeting, signaled an increased risk.
It stressed, he added, the need not to assume that Israel would refrain from targeting civilians in its bombings in the south.
“This escalation may represent a new phase of the war, which is approaching its first anniversary.”
On August 25, Israel targeted forested areas and valleys in the regions of Iqlim Al-Tuffah, Kunin, Zawtar, Rachaf, Deir Siriane, Chamaa, Rihan, Kfar Melki, Beit Yahoun, Ain Qana, Zebqin, Hadatha and other villages, coinciding with the response of Hezbollah in the assassination of its military leader, Fuad Shukr.
At the time, it claimed to have “thwarted Hezbollah's retaliation by bombing 6,000 rocket launchers in southern Lebanon.”
On August 30, similar Israeli attacks were recorded on Majdal Zun, Al-Jabeen, Sheheen, Alma Al-Shaab, Hamoul, Wadi Hassan and Naqoura.
On September 4, Israeli aircraft launched 14 raids on airstrips in Al-Jabeen, Zawtar El-Charkieh and Ramya.
On September 6 and 7, Israeli warplanes carried out more than 20 raids on forested areas in Srifa, Froun, Al-Ghandouriya, Yater, Qabrikha and Ainata.
Israel's army radio confirmed on Wednesday that “the army targeted Hezbollah positions and the air force destroyed about 25 rocket launch sites.”
The slain Hezbollah member was Hani Ezzeddine, born in 2001, from the southern Lebanese town of Deir Qanoun En Nahr.
Hezbollah targeted “a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of the Al-Raheb site with rocket weapons,” as well as “the Rweizat Al-Qarn site and the Zabdine barracks in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa farms.” It was confirmed that there were casualties.
Hezbollah said it successfully struck a “bunker where enemy soldiers were positioned at the Al-Matala site, using appropriate weapons.”
Israeli military operations advanced deep into the southern and western Bekaa region on Tuesday, reaching more than 30 km into some of the targeted border towns.
