BEIRUT: Fears of a major escalation in southern Lebanon grew on Friday when separate Israeli strikes killed two Hezbollah members and two Hamas members.
One of the Hamas members was Samer Al-Hajj, the group's security official in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain Al-Hilweh, who was killed when the car he was sitting in was hit by a missile fired from an Israeli drone. The incident occurred in Sidon, 44 kilometers from Beirut, and was the first time the city had been targeted.
Two Hezbollah members were killed in an earlier attack on Naquora.
Hostilities continued on Friday as the Lebanese government – which also includes Hezbollah – welcomed a joint statement by the leaders of Egypt, Qatar and the US.
The statement stressed “the need to immediately end the suffering of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, reach a ceasefire and conclude an agreement on the release of hostages and detainees”.
QUICKFACT
Fears of an escalation of the conflict in the Middle East have led several airlines to suspend flights to Lebanon.
It also called on both sides of the conflict to “resume urgent negotiations to overcome the remaining obstacles to reaching the desired agreement”.
The Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that “what was contained in the tripartite statement embodies Lebanon's vision to diffuse tensions in the region and avoid an all-out regional war according to the essential first step of an immediate cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2735, which is based on the initiative of US President Joe Biden.
She emphasized “the need to exert maximum pressure on Israel to oblige it to sit down at the negotiating table and implement UN Security Council Resolution 2735 without delay.”
The Lebanese statement came as Israel's Broadcasting Authority announced that “residents of cities on the border with Lebanon are required to remain near safe areas until further notice.”
On Friday, Israeli drones were also seen flying over border villages, including Yahoun, Kounine and Bint Jbeil, using loudspeakers to broadcast provocative messages in Arabic against Hezbollah and its Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, prompting gunmen to respond by firing machine guns at them . .
The Cypriot government said it “stands ready to help evacuate European civilians from Lebanon”.
The US Embassy in Beirut reiterated in a statement on Friday that it “encourages those wishing to depart Lebanon to book any ticket available to them, even if that flight does not depart immediately or does not follow their first choice route”.
She recommended that “American citizens who choose not to leave Lebanon prepare emergency contingency plans and be prepared to shelter in place for an extended period of time.”
Fears of an escalation of the conflict in the Middle East have led to the suspension of flights to Lebanon by several airlines, including Air Algerie and Air India.
Royal Jordanian has resumed flights to Beirut after suspending them since July 29.
Britain advised UK airlines not to “enter Lebanese airspace from 8 August to 4 November”, citing “potential risk to aviation from military activity”.
More Israeli assassinations of Hezbollah field cadres were reported on the first day of the 11th month of ongoing hostilities, following further Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace, as well as its ability to infiltrate landline and mobile phone calls and the Internet network.
Hezbollah announced the deaths of Mehdi Mahmoud Ksaibani, 30, from Harouf, and Hadi Jihad Deeb, 27, from Bafliyeh in southern Lebanon, who died in an Israeli airstrike on Naqoura on Friday morning.
Israel attacked Aita Al-Shaab and a house in Hanaouay on Thursday night and Friday morning. The house was empty, but five civilians in nearby houses were injured, according to the health ministry.
Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee said Israel's target was “Hezbollah's command headquarters in Hanaouay and infrastructure in Aita Al-Shaab.”
A Lebanese security source said Hezbollah responded with a series of attacks that were limited to “Israeli military, strategic and logistical bases, in response to specific Israeli attacks while avoiding civilian targets.”
Israel's Army Radio reported “several attacks on the settlement (Kiryat Shmona) and added that “the latest salvo included 10 rockets fired from Lebanon towards the settlement.”
Israeli media reported that five explosions were heard and that a rocket landed in Kiryat Shmona.
Hezbollah said it bombarded “the command headquarters of the 769th Brigade in the Kiryat Shmona barracks” with a salvo of Katyusha rockets in response to Israeli attacks on Hanaouay. It also focused on the “gathering of Israeli soldiers around Metula with rocket weapons.”
In response to the attack on Naqoura, Hezbollah launched a squadron of precision drones “targeting the positions and concentrations of its officers and soldiers” at the coastal battalion headquarters of the newly established Western Brigade in Liman.
The group said it “hit its targets precisely and caused confirmed casualties”.
Hezbollah attacked “the Al-Sammaqa site in the occupied Lebanese hills of Kfarchouba” and “a building used by soldiers in the settlement of Manara” with rocket weapons.
Israeli airstrikes hit the town of Tallouseh in the Marjeyoun district, coinciding with artillery shelling of the town.
