Border clashes heat up as HRW slams Israel use of white phosphorus

Hezbollah targeted Wednesday groups of soldiers in the Berkat Risha and the Malkia posts, after Israeli drones raided overnight the southern coastal town of al-Naqoura and the outskirts of al-Jebbayn, Aita al-Shaab and Ramia.

Hezbollah also said it had attacked soldiers in the Hanita forest Tuesday evening.

As clashes across the frontier heated up, The Israeli army bombed southern villages along the border with incendiary shells and flare bombs, causing fires, especially in Naqoura and Alma al-Shaab.

Human Rights Watch said Wednesday that Israel has used white phosphorus incendiary shells on residential buildings in at least five towns and villages in conflict-hit southern Lebanon, possibly harming civilians and violating international law.

Almost eight months of near-daily exchanges of fire between Hamas ally Hezbollah and Israel have intensified over the past week, with repeated strikes on vehicles in Lebanon and the violence spreading again from beyond the country's south into the east.

On Tuesday, a Hezbollah fighter was killed in a strike targeting a motorcycle in Naqoura and the Lebanese group claimed ten attacks on Israeli troops and positions, including with suicide drones.

The cross-border clashes began after Palestinian militant group Hamas's October 7 attack on southern Israel sparked war in the Gaza Strip.

Israel has ramped up its targeting of Hezbollah fighters and allied Palestinian and Lebanese militants in cars and on motorbikes in Lebanon.

The violence since early October has killed at least 455 people in Lebanon, mostly fighters but including 88 civilians, according to an AFP tally.

On the Israeli side, at least 14 soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed, according to the army.