Israeli forces have reportedly carried out two air strikes on the coastal town of Ghaziyeh in southern Lebanon, as confirmed by both the Israeli military and Lebanese state media.
The exchange of fire between Lebanese armed group Hezbollah and Israel has been ongoing since Israel initiated its assault on Gaza in response to a Hamas-led attack on October 7. On Monday, the state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported that Israeli warplanes targeted the town of Ghaziyeh, hitting a vehicle. Ambulances were dispatched to the scene, but details about casualties were not immediately available.
Ghaziyeh is situated approximately 5km (3 miles) from the southern port city of Sidon and about 60km (37 miles) north of the Israel-Lebanon border.
Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraea stated on Monday, “We targeted Hezbollah weapons depots near Sidon in response to the explosion of an enemy craft whose wreckage we found near the Tiberias area this afternoon. We will continue to act forcefully in response to Hezbollah attacks.”
No immediate comment was received from Hezbollah. Reports suggest that the main target of the strikes was a factory, with the owner stating that the facility manufactured electrical generators. Strikes hitting deeper inside Lebanon are reportedly becoming more frequent.
The air strikes occurred shortly after the Iran-backed Hezbollah group claimed responsibility for two attacks on Israeli posts in the Shebaa Farms border area. The ongoing tit-for-tat exchange of fire appears likely to continue, according to analysts.
Hezbollah has explicitly stated that it will not cease fighting until Israel’s aggression on Gaza comes to an end. Analysts suggest that both sides are attempting to confine their attacks to military targets, despite concerns of a potential escalation.
Last week, the Israeli military reported the killing of a Hezbollah commander, his deputy, and another fighter in a strike in the south Lebanon city of Nabatieh. Hezbollah’s secretary-general, Hassan Nasrallah, warned on Friday that Israel would pay “with blood” for civilians killed in Lebanon and emphasized the group’s possession of missiles capable of reaching anywhere in Israel.
Hezbollah has reported the loss of around 200 fighters since the cross-border escalation began.
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