Border skirmishes: Latest developments

W460

Hezbollah targeted Wednesday the Israeli Metulla post as Israel shelled the outskirts of Kfarkela and al-Naqoura.

Israeli warplanes also struck the outskirts of Aita al-Shaab, Kfarshouba, Kfarhamam and Halta.

The Israeli army said it had targeted Hezbollah positions on Tuesday after intercepting fire near the border that wounded two reservists.

The Gaza war has sparked fears of regional escalation and seen Israel trade deadly cross-border fire with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, as Hezbollah joined the fray on Oct. 8 in support of Gaza.

More than 130 people have been killed by Israeli strikes in Lebanon, mostly Hezbollah fighters but also a Lebanese soldier and 17 civilians, including three journalists, according to an AFP tally.

On the Israeli side, four civilians and seven soldiers have been killed, according to officials.

Senior Hezbollah official Sheikh Nabil Qaouq said on Wednesday that all the Israeli threats "will not change anything" and that Hezbollah has the upper hand on the border. Hezbollah "will continue its battle in support of Gaza, no matter the cost," Qaouq said.

Hezbollah had vowed on Monday that any Israeli attacks on civilians "will be reciprocated", after an Israeli strike hit a building opposite a funeral procession for one of the group's fighters.

SourceNaharnet
Comments 1
Missing un520 20 December 2023, 17:08

"Hezbollah has the upper hand".....excuse me, but what does the number 100+ Hezbollah casualties vs 7 IDF casualties tell us? That the Iranian-funded militia has the upper hand? Well, they do if you count one Israeli life equivalent to fifteen Lebanese lives. That does not sit easy in my kind of mind.