Escalation on the Lebanese-Israeli border intensified on Thursday after overnight rocket attacks triggered Israeli retaliation and threats against Lebanon.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said it had detected more than 120 projectiles launched from Lebanese territory toward Israel overnight, followed by several Israeli airstrikes and over 120 artillery incidents.
According to an Israeli military spokesman, around 200 rockets were fired from Lebanon. Twenty drones were also reported downed in what the spokesman described as Hezbollah’s largest rocket attack since the latest escalation.
UNIFIL described the exchanges as serious violations of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and warned that the escalating hostilities along the Blue Line were causing widespread displacement and destruction.
“We continue to urge the parties to end hostilities and recommit to the full implementation of resolution 1701, for the safety and security of civilians on both sides of the Blue Line,” the UNIFIL statement said.
It added that the peacekeeping mission is in close contact with Lebanese and Israeli officials to contain the situation.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has asked the foreign minister to summon the necessary personnel from the Iranian embassy after the Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a statement regarding an operation in cooperation with Hezbollah.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz meanwhile said the Israeli military had been instructed to prepare to expand its operations in Lebanon. He also warned the Lebanese leadership that Israel could take further action if Hezbollah attacks were not stopped.
“If the Lebanese government does not prevent Hezbollah’s operations, we will act on the ground to stop them,” Katz said, according to Israeli media reports.
At least 11 people were killed overnight in Lebanon, according to the Health Ministry.
An attack was reported on a coastal road in the capital, Beirut. Eyewitnesses said a drone struck a vehicle.
According to the Health Ministry, at least eight people were killed and 31 others injured in the attack alone.
Hezbollah said that one of its commanders Mohamed Assi was killed in the strike.
Lebanese security sources said it was an Israeli attack, while the Israeli military said it had no information about the drone strike. The matter is being investigated.
The seaside area had been sheltering displaced civilians who had fled fighting in other parts of the country.
Witnesses described scenes of panic following the explosions.
“We were sleeping inside the tent when we heard a big bang,” said Ahmad, whose wife and two children were injured.
“At first we did not know what was happening and chaos was everywhere. Minutes later there was another explosion. Many people were killed and wounded,” he said.
Another resident, Zeinab, said families had fled Beirut’s southern suburbs seeking safety near the coast.
“We left our homes thinking this place was safe,” she said. “But it seems there are no safe places anymore.”