Eighteen Isrealis were injured with one in critical condition after Iran-backed Hezbollah fired anti-tank missiles from southern Lebanon in a further sign that the skirmishes along the border are steadily escalating. The missile strikes hit several vehicles near the northern community of Dovev and the victims included Israel Electric Corporation employees who had arrived to repair power lines damaged by previous fire from Lebanon, according to a Guardian report.
As per the report quoting Hezbollah sources, the attackers were soldiers, though the assertion was denied by the Israeli forces the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). The Magen David Adom emergency service said one of the civilians injured in the attack was in a critical condition.
IDF chief spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said that the Israeli forces were “at a very high state of readiness in the north” and that “Lebanon’s citizens will bear the cost of this recklessness”.
Amid sporadic missiles and drone exchanges, Israel also targeted two Hezbollah units that launched mortars from Lebanon at areas near the communities of Manara and Yir’on, the report added. The army said that seven soldiers were injured in the Manara incident.
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According to Hezbollah-linked media, the Israeli artillery targeted the town of Labbouneh and that sirens sounded at the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) centre in Naqoura.
A report by rightwing Israeli newspaper Maariv on Sunday stated that the IDF was preparing to deal a “strong blow” to Hezbollah in response to the escalation of its attacks.
At least 70 Hezbollah fighters have been killed in Israeli fire since the start of hostilities.
As per an Israeli army spokesperson, a fighter jet and other aircraft later attacked several Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, including “a military compound containing a warehouse of weapons and military infrastructure.”