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On December 7, an Israeli civilian was killed near the border line with Lebanon in an attack that was claimed by Hezbollah.
Anti-tank missiles fired from Lebanon struck and killed the civilian in the northern Israeli settlement of Mattat, according to Hebrew media. Hezbollah said in a statement that its fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli troops near the said settlement.
In other statements, Hezbollah announced attacks on the Israeli military sites of Marj, Harash Ramim, Maayan Baruch, Bayad Blida, Khallet Warda, al-Jardah, Zar’it and Horsh Shtoula.
The attacks were carried out “to support the steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and in support of their brave and honorable resistance,” Hezbollah noted in its statements.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) responded to Hezbollah attacks by targeting several areas in southern Lebanon with fighter jets, combat drones, attack helicopters, tank and artillery fire.
Lebanese media reported intense airstrikes on the town of Kounine and said that the outskirts of the town of Rmaych was shelled with rounds containing white phosphorus. A number of civilians, including children, were reportedly lightly wounded.
From its side, Hezbollah mourned three of its fighters, saying that they were killed “on the road to Jerusalem” with no further details.
Clashes on the Lebanese-Israeli border first broke out last October after Hezbollah and its allies began launching attacks against the IDF from southern Lebanon in support of Gaza.
So far, the clashes on the Lebanese front have claimed the lives of six IDF troops, four Israeli civilians, 91 fighters of Hezbollah, two fighters from the Lebanese Resistance Brigades, one fighter from the Lebanese Resistance Regiments, seven fighters from the Hamas Movement, four fighters from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, one Lebanese soldier, 13 Lebanese civilians and another civilian from Syria.
The Israeli defense minister threatened Lebanon with an invasion a day earlier if Hezbollah does not pull its forces some 30 kilometers away from the border. Hezbollah has reportedly refused this demand. The last wave of attacks on Israel show that the group is not willing to compromise.
