Hostilities at the Border Restart with Hezbollah Attacking Soldiers, Israel Bombarding Southern Areas

After a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, which had paused the frequent rocket fire, artillery shelling, and airstrikes between Hezbollah and Israel in southern Lebanon, border skirmishes reignited on Friday.

Lebanon and Hezbollah were not direct participants in the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, yet there was a notable but cautious calm in the southern Lebanese border area during the truce in Gaza.

With the resumption of conflict in Gaza, Hezbollah initiated attacks near the Israeli position at Jal al-Alam, launching anti-tank missiles towards the Manara settlement.

In retaliation, Israel conducted artillery shelling of the al-Labbouneh, Hamoul, and Rwaisat areas near Naqoura in Lebanon, and also targeted the al-Qawzah forests with a guided missile. This response followed the detonation of an Israeli interception missile over al-Khiam town, which the Israeli army claimed was launched at a “suspicious aerial target” from Lebanon.

Despite the ceasefire, the past week witnessed sporadic Israeli breaches and ongoing surveillance by Israeli drones.

On the same Friday, Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati attended the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, overshadowed by the renewed conflict in Gaza. Discussions at the summit addressed the war, with Iranian delegates exiting in protest against Israeli representation and Palestinian climate change expert Hadeel Ikhmais questioning the purpose of negotiations amidst ongoing conflict.

Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, the Lebanon-Israel border has experienced escalating hostilities, primarily involving Israel and Hezbollah, but also Palestinian factions. This has raised concerns over a potentially wider conflict.

In Lebanon, the cross-border exchanges have resulted in 109 fatalities, including at least 77 Hezbollah fighters and 14 civilians, with over 55,000 people displaced from their homes.

On the Israeli side, there have been six soldier and three civilian casualties.

Following the declaration of the truce last week, Lebanese residents who had evacuated their homes near the border began cautiously returning.