Israeli military revealed that on Monday morning, it conducted airstrikes on two Hezbollah cells in Lebanon. These cells were allegedly planning to launch anti-tank missiles and rockets towards Israel. During the operation, one Hezbollah fighter was reportedly killed. The air strike took place in the southern outskirts of Aitaroun, as reported by the Lebanon state-run news agency NNA. However, the details of the incident have not been provided by either party.
The Israeli military disclosed that one of the cells was located near the Israeli town of Mattat, approximately 13 km southwest of Aitaroun. The other cell was situated further north in the disputed Shebaa Farms area. According to Israel, both cells were targeted and struck before they could initiate their attack. It is unclear if both sides are referring to the same incidents. Israel later revealed that it carried out more strikes on Hezbollah targets, including a compound and an observation post. No injuries or damages have been reported so far.
These airstrikes mark a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel. The violence between the two sides has intensified since the Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7th, leading to Israel’s extensive air strikes on Gaza in response. As a result of the fighting, Israel has started evacuating 42 communities along its northern front with Lebanon. Hezbollah claims that the conflict has resulted in the deaths of at least 27 of its fighters since October 7th.
According to Lebanese security sources, 11 fighters affiliated with Palestinian groups in Lebanon, who are allies of Hezbollah, have been killed in the border area. Additionally, four civilians have also lost their lives. On the Israeli side of the frontier, five soldiers and one civilian have been reported dead, according to the Israeli military.
