BEIRUT: Fears of a major escalation in southern Lebanon grew on Friday as separate Israeli attacks killed two Hezbollah members and two Hamas members.
One of the Hamas members was Samer Al-Hajj, the group's security official in the Palestinian refugee camp Ain Al-Hilweh, who was killed when the car he was in was hit by a missile fired by an Israeli drone. The incident took place in Sidon, 44 kilometers from Beirut, and was the first time the city had been targeted.
Two Hezbollah members were killed in an earlier attack on Naquora.
Hostilities continued on Friday as the Lebanese government – which also includes Hezbollah – welcomed a joint statement by the leaders of Egypt, Qatar and the US.
The statement stressed “the need to immediately end the suffering of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, reach a ceasefire and conclude an agreement for the release of hostages and detainees.”
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The fear of the expansion of the conflict in the Middle East has led several airlines to suspend their flights to Lebanon.
It also called on the two conflicting parties “to resume urgent talks to overcome the remaining obstacles to reaching the desired agreement”.
Lebanon's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that “what the trilateral statement included embodies Lebanon's vision to reduce tensions in the region and avoid an all-out regional war, according to a basic first step, which is an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2735, which is based on the initiative of US President Joe Biden.”
He stressed “the need to exert maximum pressure on Israel to force it to sit at the negotiating table and implement UN Security Council Resolution 2735 without delay.”
The Lebanese statement came as the Israel Broadcasting Authority announced that “residents of cities bordering Lebanon are required to remain near safe areas until further notice.”
Also on Friday, Israeli drones were seen flying over border villages including Yahoun, Kounine and Bint Jbeil, using loudspeakers to broadcast provocative messages in Arabic against Hezbollah and its Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, prompting gunmen to respond by firing machine guns into them. .
The Cyprus government has declared its “readiness to assist in the evacuation of European civilians from Lebanon”.
The US Embassy in Beirut reiterated in a statement on Friday that it “encourages those wishing to depart Lebanon to book any ticket available to them, even if that flight does not depart immediately or does not follow their first choice route”.
It recommended that “American citizens who choose not to leave Lebanon prepare contingency plans for emergencies and be prepared to shelter in place for an extended period.”
Fears of the conflict spreading across the Middle East have prompted several airlines to suspend flights to Lebanon, including Air Algeria and Air India.
Royal Jordanian has resumed its flights to Beirut after suspending them since July 29.
Britain advised UK airlines “not to enter Lebanese airspace from 8 August to 4 November”, citing “a potential risk to aviation from military activity”.
On the first day of the 11th month of ongoing hostilities, several Israeli assassinations of Hezbollah field cadres were reported after Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace, as well as its ability to intercept phone calls fixed and cellular and in the Internet network.
Hezbollah announced the deaths of Mehdi Mahmoud Ksaibani, 30, from Harouf, and Hadi Jihad Deeb, 27, from Bafliyeh, southern Lebanon, who were killed in an Israeli raid on Naqoura, Friday morning.
Israel targeted Aita Al-Shaab and a house in Hanaouay on Thursday night and Friday morning. The house was empty, but five civilians from nearby houses were injured, according to the Health Ministry.
Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee said Israel's target was “Hezbollah's command headquarters in Hanaouay and infrastructure in Aita Al-Shaab.”
A Lebanese security source said Hezbollah responded with a series of attacks that were limited to “Israeli military, strategic and logistical bases in response to specific Israeli attacks while avoiding civilian targets.
Israel's Army Radio reported “several attacks on the settlement (Kiryat Shmona),” adding that “the latest salvo included 10 rockets fired from Lebanon at the settlement.”
Israeli media said five explosions were heard and a rocket landed in Kiryat Shmona.
Hezbollah said it bombarded “the 769th Brigade command headquarters in the Kiryat Shmona barracks with a barrage of Katyusha rockets in response to Israel's attacks on Hanaouay.” It also targeted a “gathering of Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of Metula with rocket weapons.”
In response to the attack on Naqoura, Hezbollah launched a squadron of precision drones on the command headquarters of the coastal battalion belonging to the new Western Brigade in Liman, “targeting the positions and concentrations of its officers and soldiers.”
The group said it “hit its targets with precision and inflicted confirmed casualties.”
Hezbollah attacked “the Al-Sammaqa site in Lebanon's occupied Kfarchouba hills with rocket weapons” and “a building used by soldiers in the Manara settlement.”
Israeli airstrikes hit the town of Tallouseh in the Marjeyoun district, coinciding with artillery shelling of the town.
