Israel launches strike on Masnaa border crossing area: Report
The Israeli military struck “vital transportation infrastructure” with two missiles at the border crossing between Syria and Lebanon, the Lebanese Al Mayadeen news outlet reports, halting traffic between the countries.
On Thursday, Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee accused Hezbollah of smuggling weapons into Lebanon from Syria through the crossing. Lebanon’s Transport Minister Ali Hamieh later said all border crossings were being monitored by the government.
Lebanon’s Transport Minister Ali Hamieh has confirmed the attack, telling the Reuters news agency two missiles have created a four-metre (12-foot) wide crater inside Lebanese territory.
No casualties or injuries have been reported so far. The road has been used by hundreds of thousands of people, mostly Syrians, to flee over the border to escape Israel’s bombardment of Lebanon over the past 10 days.
On Thursday, Israel accused Hezbollah of using the Masnaa crossing to transport military equipment into Lebanon.
Vehicles are seen at the Masnaa border crossing between Lebanon and Syria on November 1, 2018
Israeli military claims attack on Lebanon-Syria border targeted tunnel
The Israeli military says its strike on Lebanon’s Masnaa border crossing with Syria, which cut off a road used by hundreds of thousands to flee bombardment, targeted a 3.5km (2 mile) tunnel used by Hezbollah to transfer weapons.
“Precise intelligence” allowed it to destroy military buildings, weapons depots and other infrastructure, it said in a statement.
The army also pledged to continue the attacks, claiming to protect the “security of the citizens” of Israel.
People carry their belongings while walking on the rubble, after an Israeli strike, as they flee Lebanon due to ongoing hostilities, at Masnaa border crossing with Syria, in Lebanon, Friday
Hezbollah defiant as Israeli ground offensive stalls in south Lebanon
Overnight and in the past few minutes we are hearing that dull thud of artillery still coming into southern Lebanon. We are hearing that air strikes still continue in several places, including the east of Lebanon.
This aerial campaign is still going on and that’s really interesting because the Israelis announced a ground offensive. That they were going to come in. They’ve tried to come in a few times now and have been beaten back successfully by Hezbollah.
Hezbollah’s been reflecting this in their statements. They’re now a much more defiant organisation than they were just two weeks ago when that pager attack happened, the walkie-talkie attack happened. When Hassan Nasrallah said we’ve faced losses … there was a real sense of shock going through Hezbollah.
But, right now, I think Hezbollah is feeling that it has the upper hand when it comes to ground fighting.
Hezbollah claims attack on northern Israel
The Lebanese group says its fighters targeted Haifa city with rockets in the morning. There were no immediate reports of deaths or damage.
A Hezbollah statement on Telegram said the attack was carried out at 7am (04:00 GMT) in response to Israeli raids on Lebanese and Palestinians while praising their “valiant and honourable resistance”.
Israeli strikes again hit Beirut’s southern suburbs
A man runs for cover following the Israeli air strike in Dahiyeh early on Friday
