BEIRUT: An Israeli combat drone targeted a motorcycle in the border town of Mays Al-Jabal on Wednesday, killing the driver, a Hezbollah member, and wounding another.
After the attack, hostilities between the Israeli military and Hezbollah intensified.
Throughout Tuesday night, the border area was the scene of reciprocal strikes, described by residents as some of the most intense operations since the southern front mobilised nearly a year ago.
The escalation coincided with the arrival in Beirut of Josep Borrell Fontelles, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
The border situation is expected to be a major issue on the agenda during his meetings with Lebanese officials.
At dawn, Israeli warplanes carried out more than 15 airstrikes targeting the wooded area and orchards between the outskirts of the towns of Zibqin and Qlaileh, creating a ring of fire.
Video footage showed children screaming inside homes and elderly people praying as devastating explosions occurred nearby.
Israeli warplanes also raided the outskirts of the towns of Yater and Rashaya Al-Fakhar, orchards and valleys near the towns of Qlaileh, Zibqin, Al-Ḥaniyya, Majdal Zoun and Tayr Harfa, and the outskirts of the towns of Deir Seryan and Zawtar Al-Charkieh. The warplanes also carried out a raid on Naqoura.
Two Israeli drones exploded in the village park of Maroun Al-Ras, causing damage to structures.
The Israeli army spokesman announced that they had “targeted in four different areas in southern Lebanon approximately 30 Hezbollah rocket launchers and military facilities that posed a threat to the citizens of Israel.” Their forces also targeted the Dhayra area in southern Lebanon with artillery shells.
The rocket attacks have raised questions about why Israel has targeted the valleys daily for about two weeks.
Political analyst Ali Amin told Arab News that “despite the Israeli army facing challenges in its conflict with Hezbollah, it appears to be preparing for a protracted war. Previously, (the Israeli army) revealed the mobilization of the Mountain Brigade and plans to separate the eastern and western mountain ranges from southern Lebanon.”
Al-Amin, a resident of the border area, said: “It is known that the forested areas that have been bombed for two weeks are off-limits to ordinary people and host Hezbollah military bases, making it almost impossible to move around them.
“Israel, following the disruption of technological communications between members of the party (Hezbollah) and its leadership, is actively working to fragment the southern region and subject it to constant surveillance.”
He said increased shelling in forests and valleys, coupled with the failure to protect civilians when targeting Hezbollah, signaled a greater risk.
He added that he stressed the need not to take for granted that Israel will refrain from targeting civilians in its bombing of the south.
“This escalation could represent a new phase in the war, which is approaching its first anniversary.”
On August 25, Israel targeted forested areas and valleys in the regions of Iqlim Al-Tuffah, Kunin, Zawtar, Rachaf, Deir Siriane, Chamaa, Rihan, Kfar Melki, Beit Yahoun, Ain Qana, Zebqin, Hadatha and other villages, coinciding with Hezbollah's response to the assassination of its military leader, Fuad Shukr.
At the time, he claimed to have “thwarted Hezbollah's retaliation by bombing 6,000 rocket launchers in southern Lebanon.”
On August 30, similar Israeli attacks were recorded in Majdal Zun, Al-Jabeen, Sheheen, Alma Al-Shaab, Hamoul, Wadi Hassan and Naqoura.
On September 4, Israeli aircraft carried out 14 raids on the launch pads of Al-Jabeen, Zawtar El-Charkieh and Ramya.
On September 6 and 7, Israeli warplanes carried out more than 20 raids in the forested areas of Srifa, Froun, Al-Ghandouriya, Yater, Qabrikha and Ainata.
Israel Army Radio confirmed on Wednesday that “the army targeted Hezbollah positions and the air force destroyed about 25 rocket launch sites.”
The slain Hezbollah member was Hani Ezzeddine, born in 2001, originally from the town of Deir Qanoun En Nahr in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah targeted “a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of the Al-Raheb site with missile weapons,” as well as “the Rweizat Al-Qarn site and the Zabdine barracks in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms.” It confirmed that there were casualties.
Hezbollah claimed to have successfully hit a “bunker where enemy soldiers were positioned at the Al-Matala site using appropriate weapons.”
On Tuesday, Israeli military operations pushed deep into the southern region and western Bekaa, reaching more than 30 km away, in some of the towns targeted by the border.
