Border clashes intensify, casualties reported on both sides

Two Lebanese were killed and several others were wounded Monday in an Israeli airstrike on a house in the southern Lebanese town of Ainata as Hezbollah targeted Israeli posts and infantry forces in Dhaira, Branit, al-Marj, al-Raheb, and Netu'a, causing confirmed casualties.

Israeli artillery meanwhile shelled Mhaibib, Blida, and the outskirts of Alma al-Shaab, Aita al-Shaab, Ramia, Dhaira, al-Jebbayn, Ain Azzarka, Shihine, al-Naqoura, Markaba and Houla in south Lebanon, using flare bombs on Aita al-Shaab. Israeli warplanes also bombed al-Labbouneh, Aita al-Shaab, Bint Jbeil and Ainata.

Israeli residents of the Upper and Western Galilee were instructed to stay in bomb shelters until further notice as alert sirens sounded in Safed, Haifa, and nearby towns in the Upper Galilee, as well as in Acre and suburbs in the Western Galilee.

The Israeli army earlier said that twenty mortars were fired from Lebanon at northern Israel, setting off sirens in Gornot HaGalil and in the northern village of Arab al-Aramshe. All mortars landed in open areas, causing no injuries or damage.

Israel claimed it had struck "a terror cell" preparing to carry out an attack near the Biranit army base overnight.

Israel had fired Sunday white phosphorus shells on several southern border towns causing cases of suffocation in Houla, Mays al-Jabal, Blida and Yaroun.

In the north since October 7, more than 90 people have been killed on the Lebanese side, and eight inside Israel, including six soldiers. Israeli media announced Monday the death of an Israeli who had been injured Sunday by an anti-tank missile fired by Hezbollah towards Dovev, raising the death toll in northern Israel to at least nine.