Hezbollah targets Israel after announcing new 'escalatory phase'

Hezbollah fired Friday a volley of rockets at Israel's Yoav barracks in the occupied Golan Heights and another volley of rockets at the Zofolon area north of Haifa.

The Israeli army for its part called for the evacuation of 20 southern Lebanese towns, and struck several southern towns including Jbaa, Aita al-Shaab, Zrariyeh, Marwanieh, Bazourieh, Shaaytiyeh, Ebl al-Siqi, Malkieh, and Ansar.

The Israeli military said on Thursday that five soldiers had been killed in combat in southern Lebanon, taking to 19 the number of troop deaths announced since Israel began raids into Lebanon last month and Israeli reports said 31 troops were wounded in a border drone attack.

The Israeli army said Friday it will deploy an additional brigade to its northern border "in accordance with the situational assessment".

Hezbollah had hit many Israeli tanks in south Lebanon near the border with guided missiles in the past days, as the Israeli army tried to infiltrate into Lebanon's border villages.

Hezbollah fighters targeted "two Merkava tanks" near the border village of Labbouneh "with guided missiles", causing a fire and casualties, Hezbollah said Thursday.

Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said Thursday that the Israeli army was not fully in control of any south Lebanon village.

Hezbollah on Thursday said it was launching a new phase in its war against Israel, saying it has used precision-guided missiles against troops for the first time.

Hezbollah "announces a transition to a new and escalatory phase in the confrontation with the Israeli enemy, which will be reflected in the developments and events of the coming days," the group said in a statement.