BEIRUT: Fears of a major escalation in southern Lebanon grew on Friday as separate Israeli attacks killed two Hezbollah and two Hamas members.
Samer Al-Hajj, the group's security officer in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain Al-Hilweh, was one of the Hamas members who was killed after being hit by a missile fired by a drone. The car he was driving was Israeli. The incident took place in Sidon, 44 kilometers from Beirut, and is the first time the city has 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 United States.
The statement emphasized that “there is a need for an immediate end to the suffering of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, for a cease-fire, and for an agreement to be reached for the release of hostages and prisoners.”
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Fears of an escalation of conflict in the Middle East have led many airlines to suspend flights to Lebanon.
It also called on the two sides in the conflict to “continue urgent dialogue to overcome remaining obstacles to reaching the desired agreement.”
Lebanon's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that “what is included in the tripartite declaration includes Lebanon's vision to diffuse tensions in the region and prevent an all-out regional war according to the basic first step, is the immediate cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip and the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2735, which is based on the actions of US President Joe Biden.
It emphasized that “it is necessary to exert maximum pressure on Israel to force it to sit at the negotiating table and to implement without delay the UN Security Council 2735”.
The Lebanese announcement came as the Israeli Broadcasting Authority announced that “residents of the villages along the border with Lebanon must stay close to safe places until they die.”
Also on Friday, Israeli drones were seen flying over border villages, including Yahoun, Kounine and Bint Jbeil, using loudspeakers to broadcast provocative messages in Arabic against Hezbollah and the Secretary-General. of Hassan Nasrallah, prompting the armed men to fire back at them. .
The government of Cyprus announced its “willingness to assist in the evacuation of European civilians from Lebanon”.
The US Embassy in Beirut confirmed in a statement on Friday that it “encourages those who want to leave Lebanon to book any tickets they have, even if it does not depart immediately or follow their first chosen route.”
It advised “US citizens who choose not to leave Lebanon to prepare an emergency response plan and prepare for long-term shelter.”
Fears of an escalation of conflict in the Middle East have led several airlines to suspend flights to Lebanon, including Air Algeria and Air India.
Royal Jordanian has resumed flights to Beirut after suspending them from July 29.
Britain has advised UK airlines to “not enter Lebanese airspace from August 8 to November 4”, citing “the potential risk to flights from military action”.
On the first day of the 11th month of the conflict, several Israeli killings of Hezbollah field personnel were reported after further violations of Lebanese airspace, as well as its access to cyberspace. and landline and internet networks.
Hezbollah announced the death of Mehdi Mahmoud Ksaibani, 30, from Harouf, and Hadi Jihad Deeb, 27, from Bafliyeh, south Lebanon, who were killed in an Israeli attack in Naqoura on Friday morning.
On Thursday night and Friday morning, Israel targeted Aita Al-Shaab and a house in Hanaouay. The house was empty, but five civilians in nearby houses were injured, according to the Ministry of Health.
Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee said Israel's target was “Hezbollah's command center in Hanauay and infrastructure in Aita Al-Shaab”.
A Lebanese security source said Hezbollah responded with a series of strikes that were limited to “Israeli military, strategic and logistical bases, in response to Israeli special attacks, while avoiding civilian targets.”
Israel's Army Radio reported “several attacks in the town (Kiryat Shmona),” adding that “the last salvo included 10 rockets fired from Lebanon into the town.”
Israeli media said five explosions were heard and a rocket landed in Kiryat Shmona.
Hezbollah said it bombed “the command center of the 769th Brigade in the Kiryat Shmona camp with Katyusha rockets, in response to Israel's attack on Hanauay.” It also targeted “the gathering of Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of Metula with weapons.”
In response to the attack on Naqoura, Hezbollah sent a precision drone squadron to the command center of the newly established Western Brigade coastal base in Liman, “targeting the location and concentration of officers and his army.”
The group said it “hit the right target and caused confirmed casualties.”
Hezbollah attacked “Al-Sammaqa site in the Lebanese occupied Kfarchouba Hills with heavy weapons” and “a building used by the military in Manara settlement”.
Israeli airstrikes hit the town of Talloush in the Marjeyoun district, coinciding with gunfire in the town.
