Lebanon-Israel border heats up ahead of Nasrallah speech

Israel shelled Friday the outskirts of Qaouzah, Ramya, Yaroun, Ras al-Naqoura, Marwahin, and Aita al-Shaab, as it continued its unprecedented artillery shelling on southern Lebanese towns along the border.

The Israeli army said it targeted a missile launchpad in the Shebaa Farms, while Hezbollah fired an anti-tank missile at a gathering of Israeli troops near the Mattat post facing Rmeish, inflicting "certain casualties."

Two civilians were wounded in Israeli bombardments of the border region Thursday, while Hezbollah announced five of its fighters killed.

The deaths raised to 71 the number killed in Lebanon since the Israel-Hamas war began, according to an AFP tally -- most of them Hezbollah fighters and other combatants but also civilians.

Hezbollah had attacked Thursday 19 Israeli positions along the border, on the eve of a speech by Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on the Israel-Hamas war. A drone attack on an Israeli barracks in the disputed Shebaa Farms area followed. A barrage of rockets launched by the Lebanese section of Hamas's armed wing wounded two people in the Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona near the border, Israel's Magen David Adom emergency medical service said.

On the Israeli side, nine people have died -- eight soldiers and one civilian. But the tall could rise. Israeli helicopters were seen Thursday transporting a large number of casualties from the site in Shebaa and Israeli media confirmed Friday casualties among Israeli soldiers.

The Israeli military said in response it targeted the group with a "broad assault", in which "warplanes and helicopters" attacked Hezbollah targets.

"We are in a high state of readiness in the north, in a very high state of alert, to respond to any event today and in coming days," Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said.

- 'Doesn't need a war' -

Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is set to speak Friday for the first time since the Israel-Hamas war broke out.

Israel has carried out relentless strikes on Gaza since Hamas militants attacked border communities and military outposts on October 7.

French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said Lebanon "doesn't need a war" with Israel, during a visit on Thursday to his country's contingent in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Such a war "could have major escalatory effects on the whole region," he said.