File image.
On October 15, Hezbollah launched yet another series of attacks from southern Lebanon against the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
In a statement, the group said that one of its units targeted an IDF center in the settlement of Shtula in the occupied Shebaa Farms with anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) in response to Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon which claimed the lives of a journalist on October 13 and two civilians on October 14.
Israel’s Magen David Adom ambulance service said that a civilian was killed and three others were wounded in the attack on Shtula.
Hezbollah said in two follow up statements that its fighters also targeted the IDF’s al-Rahib site with direct fire and hit a Merkava main battle tank that was deployed there with ATGM, killing or wounding its crew. In another statement, the group said that one of its fighters died of wounds he sustained from Israeli shelling.
The IDF confirmed its troops were hit by three ATGMs without admitting any casualties and said that several targets of Hezbollah were hit in response.
Later, the IDF said it was “isolating the area” of up to four kilometers from the separation line with Lebanon, instructing civilians not to enter.
“The IDF stresses that entering the area is strictly prohibited and asks the public to be vigilant and not enter the area,” the military said.
Israelis living in communities up to two kilometers from the separation Line were ordered to remain close to bomb shelters until further notice.
A day earlier, the IDF carried out a series of strikes against southern Lebanon after fire attacks by Hezbollah, a raid by fighters from the Palestinian Hamas Movement and two suspected attacks with drones and anti-aircraft missiles. The strikes claimed the lives of two civilians as well as a fighter from Hezbollah and three others from Hamas.
The escalation in southern Lebanon began after the October 7 Hamas-led surprise attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip. Hezbollah didn’t only praise the attack, which claimed the lives of more than 1,300 Israelis, but also resumed attacks against the IDF along with Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
The Lebanon front could become way more active in coming days if the IDF goes on with its plans and launches a ground invasion in Gaza to neutralize Hamas.
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