Hezbollah Escalates Border Conflict with Drone, Rocket, and Artillery Strikes

On Wednesday, Hezbollah launched a multi-faceted attack involving drones, rockets, and artillery against Israeli forces in the Shebaa Farms area. This assault included strikes on Israeli positions in Dhaira and the targeting of the Hadb al-Bustan post and Kherbet Ma’ar using Burkan rockets. Additionally, Hezbollah targeted a recently established command center near the Israeli naval base at Ras al-Naqoura. In response to these aggressions, the Israeli army successfully intercepted eight of the 18 missiles fired from Lebanon towards Western Galilee.

In retaliation, Israel conducted airstrikes on several locations in Lebanon, including the outskirts of al-Jebbayn, Tayr Harfa, Dhaira, Yarine, al-Naqoura, Aita al-Shaab, and the southern region of al-Khiam. Israeli forces along the border also deployed heavy machine gunfire into adjacent Lebanese forests.

These hostilities are part of ongoing clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces along the border since the Israel-Hamas conflict began on October 7. These confrontations have resulted in approximately 150 casualties on the Lebanese side, predominantly among Hezbollah and allied group fighters, but also including at least 19 civilians.

A recent Israeli airstrike on a residence in Bint Jbeil resulted in the deaths of a Hezbollah fighter and two of his family members. On the Israeli side, the conflict has led to the deaths of at least four civilians and nine soldiers, as reported by Israeli authorities. Furthermore, a Hezbollah-fired anti-tank missile recently injured nine Israeli soldiers in Iqrit.