Israeli jets and artillery hit multiple targets in southern
Lebanon overnight, Israel's military said on Thursday, amid spiralling tensions
following the mass attack on Hezbollah communications devices this week.
The military said air strikes hit Hezbollah targets in
Chihine, Tayibe, Blida, Meiss El Jabal, Aitaroun and Kfarkela in southern
Lebanon, as well as a Hezbollah weapons storage facility in the area of Khiam.
Israeli media reported that a number of Israeli civilians
had been wounded by anti-tank missile fire from Lebanon but there was no
official confirmation.
The latest Israeli strikes follow a period of sharply
spiralling concern over an escalation of the conflict on the border with
southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces have been exchanging fire with
Iranian-backed Hezbollah for months.
On Wednesday, Hezbollah fired around 20 projectiles into
Israel, most of which were intercepted by air defence systems without causing
any injuries, the military said.
Around 10 missiles were fired at the Mount Hermon area of
the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, where Israel has key surveillance,
espionage and air defence installations.
This week dozens of people were killed and thousands wounded
by a sophisticated attack targeting communications devices used by operatives
of Hezbollah. Israel has not commented directly on the attacks, which multiple
security sources have said was carried out by its spy agency Mossad.
SHIFTING FOCUS
On Wednesday, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said the
war that Israel has been waging in Gaza since last October, after Hamas-led
gunmen stormed communities in southern Israel, was moving into a new phase,
with the focus now shifting to the northern border.
He said more military units and resources were being sent to
the border. According to Israeli officials, the forces being deployed to the
border include the 98th Division, an elite formation including commando and
paratroop elements that has been fighting in Gaza.
Hezbollah launched missile barrages on Israel on the day
after the 7 Oct attack by Hamas and since then there has been a constant
exchange of fire that neither side has allowed to escalate into a full-scale
war.
However, tens of thousands have been evacuated on both sides
of the border, and there has been mounting pressure in Israel for the
government to get the evacuees back home.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Wednesday
to return the evacuated Israelis "securely to their homes".