Border tension spikes amid fears of Hezbollah response to Arouri's killing

Hezbollah targeted Thursday Israeli soldiers and posts in Shtula, Metula, al-Manara and al-Jerdah while Israel struck the outskirts of Houla and Maroun al-Ras and shelled al-Khiam and the Panorama curve -- between Kfarkila and Odeisseh -- with white phosphorus bombs.

Four Hezbollah fighters, including a local Hezbollah leader, were killed overnight in southern Lebanon in Israeli strikes on the border town of Naqoura.

The Lebanese group on Wednesday announced the deaths of five other fighters in southern Lebanon.

In a visit Wednesday to the Lebanese border, where Israeli forces have regularly traded fire with Hezbollah since October 8, Israeli army chief Herzi Halevi said troops were "in very high readiness".

Near Israel's tense northern border with Lebanon, residents fear the killing of the deputy leader of Palestinian militant group Hamas in Beirut, Saleh al-Arouri, could escalate the war with Hezbollah.