Israeli troops try to advance into Debbine amid Hezbollah's resistance
Israeli troops were trying to advance from the occupied Shebaa farms into Debbine in south Lebanon after violent strikes and artillery shelling on the southern town.
The Israeli army also targeted Thursday Hebbarieh and Kfarshouba, while Hezbollah claimed responsibility for several drone and rocket attacks targeting soldiers in Khiam, Taybeh, Odaiseh, Bint Jbeil, Naqoura, Aitaroun, Bayada, Rob Tlatine and Qantara in south Lebanon and troops and military posts in north Israel including Ras al-Naqoura, Kfar Giladi, Nahariya, Carmiel, Peqi'in, Kiryat Shmona, Misgav Am, Hanita, Kfar Yuval and Margaliot.
In the occupied Golan, Hezbollah targeted the Katsavia base with attack drones.
Troops were destroying border villages as they tried to advance amid fierce resistance from Hezbollah. Video footages showed the destruction of villages including Aita al-Shaab, Ainata, Shamaa and Marwahine.
Hezbollah said on Thursday morning that its fighters were engaging with Israeli troops trying to advance from Taybe toward Qantara.
Deeper in the south, the Israeli military carried out two strikes against a key bridge, destroying it, after calling on civilians to evacuate the entire area of southern Lebanon up to the Zahrani River, about 40 kilometers north of the border. The Qasmieh bridge is the last bridge between the Tyre and Sidon regions.
In the mountains east of Beirut, an Israeli strike targeted a car on the Dahr al-Baydar road linking Beirut to Damascus, killing one person.
U.S. President Donald Trump and an Israeli minister said the leaders of Israel and Lebanon will speak on Thursday in what would be a historic first, but Lebanon said it was not aware of any planned contact with the Israeli side.
Diplomatic efforts to halt hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah reached a fever pitch on Wednesday, with reports suggesting a potential ceasefire could be announced soon.
Source: Naharnet
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