Illustrative image. (The Israeli Defense Forces)
Another wave of Israeli strikes hit southern Lebanon, the heartland of Hezbollah, on August 18, causing a number of casualties.
In a statement, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said that it struck a Hezbollah cell and a weapons depot of the group in the town of Chebaa. Another weapons depot and a building used by the group were struck in the towns of Ayta ash-Shab and Matmoura. A rocket launcher was also hit in the town of at-Tiri, according to the military.
Lebanese media reported that a man was killed in the Chebaa strike, without clarifying if he was a civilian or a Hezbollah fighter.
In addition, three Ghanaian peacekeepers were reportedly wounded when a vehicle of the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon was hit near the town of Dhayra.
From its side, Hezbollah launched five attacks against the IDF in response to recent strikes on southern Lebanon and in support of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.
The group said in separate statements that its fighters fired a barrage of rockets at the headquarters of the IDF’s Valley Battalion near the settlement of Beit Hillel, hit surveillance equipment in the site of Ruwaysat al-Alam and shelled the border sites of al-Marj, al-Malikyiah and Zarit.
The IDF also said that that some 20 rockets were launched at the settlement of Kiryat Shmona from Lebanon, with many being intercepted by Iron Dome air defense systems. The attack caused some material losses. However, no casualties were reported by Hebrew media. Hezbollah has not claimed responsibility, yet.
Hezbollah and its allies in Lebanon have been launching attacks against the IDF in support of Gaza since the start of the Israeli war on the Strip last October.
So far, the confrontation has resulted in 26 civilian deaths in Israel and the occupied Golan as well as the deaths of at least 18 soldiers and security officers. On the Lebanese side, more than 600 people have been killed, including 393 fighters of Hezbollah and over 100 civilians.
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