Israel-Hezbollah border skirmishes: Latest developments

Hezbollah targeted and destroyed Tuesday a Merkava tank in the Israeli Branit post and targeted the al-Marj Israeli post facing the southern border town of Markaba with guided missiles.

It earlier fired guided missiles at an Israeli force that was setting up an ambush on a hill. Hezbollah said it inflicted casualties among the members of the Israeli force on the al-Khazzan hill near al-Assi post.

Israeli drones fired four missiles on the "Iran Park" in Maroun al-Ras, and Israeli artillery shelled Markaba, the forest of Yaroun, the outskirts of Maroun al-Ras, and Blida’s outskirts after an Israeli post in Bayyad Blida was attacked. Israel also targeted Wadi al-Olleik between Merwahin and al-Bustan.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Israeli army shelled anew the outskirts of Ramia and al-Labbouneh, near the southern Lebanese town of Naqoura, after fighter jets struck the area overnight and again at dawn.

The fighter jets also struck overnight the southern towns of Yater and Zibqine, and the outskirts of Tayr Harfa, Ramya, Dhayra and Baraashit.

Israel's army said Tuesday that fighter jets have struck Hezbollah infrastructure including weapons, posts and sites in Lebanon.

On Monday night, Israel fired flares at the border towns of Meis el-Jabal and Houla, after Hezbollah announced Monday having successfully targeted Israeli technical and espionage equipment in al-Metula, Ras al-Naqoura, Jal al-Alam, Branit, and al-Bayyad posts.

Hezbollah and allied Palestinian factions in Lebanon have exchanged fire with Israel almost daily since Hamas's October 7 assault on Israel, amid fears that if Hezbollah were to launch its own war with Israel, the conflict could spill over into the wider region.

Nearly 29,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon due to the clashes, and more than 62 people have been killed. 48 of them are Hezbollah fighters, the others are members of the Resistance Brigades and Palestinian factions. Four civilians have been killed, including Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah.

More than 40,000 perennial olive trees have been burned in the south by Israeli white phosphorus bombing.

Anis Abla, head of Lebanon's Civil Defense Centre in Marjayoun, near the Israeli border, said they were completely unprepared for war.

"Our equipment is very primitive and there is a shortage of all tools, such as fire suits and extinguisher cylinders," he told AFP.