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Hezbollah launched a new wave of attacks against the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) from southern Lebanon on December 23.
The group announced in two separate statements that it had targeted gatherings of Israeli troops in the military site of Birkat Risha, al-Tihat hill and Mount Nadhar with “suitable weapons.
In two other statements, the group said that its fighters had shelled the site of Bayad Blida and fired Burkan heavy rockets at the Jal al-Alam site. A video posted to social media showed large blasts near the Israeli settlement of Shlomi. No casualties were reported however.
According to Hezbollah, the attacks were carried out “to support the steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and in support of their brave and honorable resistance.”
In response to Hezbollah’s attacks, the IDF carried out heavy airstrikes against the town of Kafr Kila in southern Lebanon. Lebanese media also reported intense artillery strikes on the towns of al-Naqoura, Tayr, Harf, al-Jabin, Mays Al-Jabal, Ramiyah, and Aita Al-Shaab. However, there were no casualties.
The clashes on the Lebanese-Israeli border first broke out after the start of the war in Gaza, with Hezbollah and its allies carrying out attacks in support of the Strip.
As of December 23, the clashes on the border have resulted in four civilian deaths on the Israeli side, as well as the deaths of nine IDF soldiers. On the Lebanese side, more than 130 have been killed. The toll includes 114 Hezbollah members, ten of whom were killed in Syria, 16 Palestinian fighters, at least 17 civilians and three journalists.
