Two civilians killed in Israeli strike on Naqoura
Two people were killed Monday in an Israeli strike on a vehicle in southern Lebanon, according to the health ministry, with a Lebanese security source saying the car belonged to a U.N.-contracted company.
"The Israeli enemy's strike targeting a car in Naqoura left two dead," the health ministry said, without specifying whether they were civilians.
A security source, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said the car "belonged to a cleaning company under contract with the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)", deployed along the border with Israel.
The two victims were "an employee of this company and his cousin, both from Naqoura", a coastal town along Lebanon's border with Israel, according to the source.
"The cousin, who lives in an African country, arrived in Lebanon two days ago," the source added.
Hezbollah's al-Manar television channel reported that the two dead in Naqoura were civilians.
In response to the strike on Naqoura, Hezbollah fired Katyusha rockets at the northern Israeli areas of Ein Ya'akov, Ga'aton and Yehiam. It later targeted posts in the occupied Kfarshouba Heights and Shebaa Farms.
Earlier in the day, Hezbollah said it targeted the Mount Adir mountain in Israel's Upper Galilee with artillery shells, and Israeli artillery shelled Yaroun and al-Khiam with white phosphorus bombs.
Hezbollah had targeted overnight Avivim and Menara in northern Israel in response to Israeli attacks on civilians in south Lebanon, while Israeli warplanes and artillery bombed Yaroun, Aita al-Shaab, Hanine, Tayrharfa and al-Bayda in south Lebanon.
A person was killed and seven, including children, were injured in airstrikes Sunday on Beit Leef and Beit Yahoun.
More than 110,000 people have been displaced from southern Lebanon due to the cross-border fighting, according to the U.N.
In Israel, authorities say around 100,000 people have been displaced in the country's north.
The violence since October has killed some 609 people in Lebanon, mostly Hezbollah fighters but including at least 132 civilians, according to an AFP tally.
On the Israeli side, including in the annexed Golan Heights, authorities have announced the deaths of at least 24 soldiers and 26 civilians.
Source: Naharnet, Agence France Presse
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