Israel’s Gallant says attacks against Hezbollah will intensify
Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant says the military will keep targeting Lebanon’s Hezbollah armed group until northern Israel is safe again.
“We are hitting Hezbollah very hard over the past year and in particular over the past few weeks,” he said during a visit to the northern town of Safad, according to The Times of Israel newspaper.
“We will continue and increase this effort – we plan to bring security to the towns in the north and to safely return home those who evacuated,” Gallant added.
Israel killed 25 people in Lebanon since dawn: Minister
Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad has said 25 people have been killed since the morning in Israeli strikes on Lebanon.
Speaking alongside Lebanon’s health minister, the head of the Lebanese Doctors Syndicate, Youssef Bakhash, has told reporters that more than 5,000 injured people had been admitted to hospitals.
Bakhash added that Rafik Hariri University Hospital and the Baabda Governmental Hospital would become specialised centres and be equipped to treat war injuries and provide psychological support.
A hotline for these centres was set up, with the number 8186 0087.
Lebanon’s Tyre region, Bekaa Valley face Israeli aerial assaults
Over the past few hours, there have been several Israeli air strikes, both here in the Tyre region and towards the Bekaa Valley, including in the Lebanese towns of Karak and Shmestar.
Hezbollah also launched several rocket barrages towards Israel.
The picture today reflects more escalation and there is likely to be more violence in the coming hours.
The main issue now is how a ground invasion might happen. During the 2006 war, Hezbollah was able to stop such an invasion with fewer fighters and weapons. Now, there are reports that the Israelis will be looking to control some of the strategic hills in southern Lebanon.
Houthis claim to have targeted Israel’s Tel Aviv, Ashkelon
Yemen’s Houthi rebels say they have fired a ballistic missile towards southern Tel Aviv and launched a drone at the coastal city of Ashkelon. In a statement, the group pledged to continue its attacks on Israel until its “aggression on Lebanon and Gaza stops”.
Israeli army claims strike destroy Hezbollah launchers
We’ve been reporting today on two rocket attacks claimed by the Lebanese group on the Israeli city of Tiberias. The Israeli army now says that its warplanes carried out strikes on the area of Hadda in southern Lebanon, where it claims the Hezbollah rocket launchers used to hit Tibeias were based.
In addition, the army said it carried out strikes on the city of Sidon and on the area of Nabatia.
One Israeli was reported wounded by falling shrapnel during Hezbollah’s attack on Tiberias, while moments ago Lebanon’s health minister said that 25 people had been killed by Israeli strikes on Lebanon since midnight.
Israeli troops deploy to Lebanon border
Israeli troops are being deployed to northern Israel in what may be preparations for a military incursion into Lebanon. Israel’s top military commander Herzi Halevi on Wednesday told soldiers stationed there to prepare for a “possible” ground invasion.
Some analysts have cautioned that Israel appears to lack a clear strategy and could be sending troops “for show”, in a bid to bring Hezbollah to agree to its requests.
