Israel-Hezbollah border skirmishes: Latest developments

Israel shelled Monday the outskirts of the southern border towns of Alma al-Shaab, al-Naqoura, and al-Khiyam.

Meanwhile, Israeli residents near Lebanon's border have been asked to stay home over a suspected security incident.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi had called on Lebanese officials to abide by Resolution 1701, which compels Israel and Hezbollah to instantly halt all attacks and military operations, as the killing of four Lebanese civilians, including a woman and three children, raised the likelihood of a dangerous new escalation in the conflict on the Lebanon-Israel border.

Israeli troops and Hezbollah have been clashing for a month along the border since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. While clashes remain largely contained, they have increased in intensity as Israel conducts a ground incursion in Gaza against Hezbollah ally Hamas.

Shortly after the Israeli strike on a car carrying a family between the towns of Ainata and Aitaroun, Hezbollah fired Grad rockets from southern Lebanon into Israel in response. A number of rockets hit the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona.

The death of the woman and three children raised the number of civilians killed on the Lebanese side in the border clashes to at least 14, while at least two Israeli civilians have been killed, as well as seven Israeli soldiers and dozens of fighters with Hezbollah and allied groups in Lebanon.

Hezbollah officials have warned that if Israel kills Lebanese civilians, it will be considered a violation of the rules of engagement and it will retaliate by attacking civilian targets.