The Daily Star Lebanon Breaking News, Lebanon News, Middle East News & World News
### Israeli Strikes Lead to Fatalities and Wildfires in Southern Lebanon
Recent Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon have resulted in two fatalities and ignited wildfires, as reported by Lebanese state media. These strikes have also led to Hezbollah announcing the death of two of its fighters.
**Escalation of Conflict**
For the past eight months, Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas, has engaged in near-daily exchanges of fire with Israeli forces following the Gaza war initiated by Hamas’s October 7 attack. This conflict has intensified recently, with both sides experiencing multiple brush fires and increasing fears of the conflict expanding further.
**Details of the Recent Strikes**
According to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA), an Israeli drone targeted a cafe in Aitaroun, killing the cafe’s owner, Ali Khalil Hamad, 37, and a young man named Mustafa A. Issa. Additionally, there was a violent airstrike on the border village of Khiam.
The Israeli military confirmed the strikes, stating they targeted Hezbollah terrorists and militant infrastructure in the Aitaroun, Khiam, and Markaba regions. In response, Hezbollah launched Katyusha rockets into a town across the border, retaliating for the attacks on southern villages and civilians, particularly in Aitaroun.
**Hezbollah’s Response**
Hezbollah announced the death of one of its fighters, Radwan A. Issa, due to Israeli fire. The overall border violence since October 8 has claimed the lives of 458 individuals in Lebanon, mostly fighters, but also about 90 civilians, and has resulted in the deaths of at least 15 Israeli soldiers and 11 civilians.
**Use of Phosphorus Shells**
Earlier on Saturday, Israeli artillery bombarded the outskirts of Alma al-Shaab with incendiary phosphorus shells, causing extensive forest fires that spread to nearby homes and olive trees. Lebanese authorities and international rights groups have accused Israel of using white phosphorus rounds, a substance that ignites on contact with oxygen and is prohibited as a chemical weapon under international law.
**Firefighting Efforts**
Rescuers, particularly those from the Risala Scout association affiliated with Hezbollah ally the Amal Movement, have been battling the flames. Lebanese military helicopters have avoided involvement for fear of further Israeli attacks.
In another region, near the border village of Mays al-Jabal, fires broke out at positions belonging to the Lebanese army and UNIFIL (the U.N. peacekeeping mission), although they did not reach military positions or cause casualties.
UNIFIL confirmed that a bushfire near one of their positions in Houla was extinguished with help from Lebanese troops and civil defense forces, noting no damage to their assets or personnel. However, several landmines exploded due to the fires, complicating firefighting efforts.
This ongoing conflict and the associated risks highlight the precarious situation in the region, with significant humanitarian and environmental consequences.
