BEIRUT: Fears of a major escalation in southern Lebanon grew on Friday when two Hezbollah and two Hamas members were killed in separate Israeli attacks.
One Hamas member was Samer al-Hajj, the group's security officer in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain al-Khilweh, who was killed when a missile fired from an Israeli drone hit the car he was in. The incident took place in Sidon, 44 kilometers from Beirut, and it was the first time the city had been targeted.
Two members of Hezbollah were killed in an earlier attack on Nakuora.
The hostilities continued on Friday as Lebanon's government, which also represents Hezbollah, welcomed a joint statement by the leaders of Egypt, Qatar and the United States.
The statement emphasized “the need to immediately end the suffering of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, to reach a ceasefire and to conclude an agreement on the release of hostages and detainees.”
SOONFACT
Fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East have prompted more airlines to suspend flights to Lebanon.
He also called on both sides of the conflict “to resume urgent discussions to overcome the remaining obstacles to reaching the desired agreement.”
Lebanon's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that “what is included in the tripartite statement embodies Lebanon's vision to reduce tensions in the region and avoid an all-out regional war in accordance with the main first step, which is an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the implementation of Resolution UN Security Council 2735, which is based on the initiative of US President Joe Biden.
It emphasizes “the need to exert maximum pressure on Israel to force it to sit down at the negotiating table and immediately implement UN Security Council Resolution 2735.”
Lebanon's statement came after Israel Broadcasting Corporation announced that “residents of cities bordering Lebanon should remain near safe areas until further notice.”
Also on Friday, Israeli drones were seen flying over border villages including Yahun, Kunin and Bint Jbeil, using loudspeakers to broadcast provocative messages in Arabic against Hezbollah and its Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, prompting the gunmen to in response to shoot them with machine guns. .
The government of Cyprus declared its “willingness to assist in the evacuation of the European civilian population from Lebanon.”
The US Embassy in Beirut reiterated a statement on Friday that it “recommends that those wishing to leave Lebanon book any available ticket, even if that flight does not depart immediately or is not on a first-choice route.”
It recommended that “US citizens who choose not to leave Lebanon prepare contingency plans and be prepared to shelter in place for an extended period.”
Fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East have prompted more airlines to suspend flights to Lebanon, including Air Algerie and Air India.
Royal Jordanian has resumed flights to Beirut after suspending them since July 29.
Britain advised airlines in the UK “not to enter Lebanese airspace between 8 August and 4 November”, citing “potential danger to aviation from military activities”.
On the first day of the 11th month of ongoing hostilities, there were reports of fresh Israeli killings of Hezbollah field personnel following new Israeli violations of Lebanon's airspace, as well as its ability to hack into landline and mobile phone calls and the Internet.
Hezbollah announced the deaths of Mehdi Mahmoud Xaybani, 30, from Haruf, and Hadi Jihad Dib, 27, from Baflieh, southern Lebanon, who were killed in an Israeli raid on Nakura on Friday morning.
On Thursday night and Friday morning, Israel struck Aita Al-Shaab and a house in Hanawa. The house was empty, but five civilians from nearby houses were injured, according to the Ministry of Health.
Israeli army spokesman Avichai Adrei said Israel's target was “Hizbullah's command headquarters in Hanawai 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),” adding that “the latest volley included 10 rockets fired from Lebanon toward the settlement.”
Israeli media reported that five explosions were heard and a rocket landed in Kiryat Shmon.
“Hezbollah” said that in response to Israel's attacks on Hanawai, they “bombed the command of the 769th brigade in Kiryat Shmona barracks with a volley of Katyusha rockets.” It was also directed at “the gathering of Israeli soldiers with rocket weapons in the vicinity of Metula.”
In response to the attack on Nakura, Hezbollah launched a squadron of precision drones at the command headquarters of a coastal battalion belonging to the newly formed Western Brigade in Liman, “targeting positions and concentrations of officers and soldiers.”
The group said it “clearly hit its targets and caused confirmed damage.”
Hezbollah attacked “the Al-Sammaq facility in the occupied Lebanese hills of Kfarchouba with rocket weapons” and “a building used by soldiers in the Manara settlement.”
Israeli airstrikes hit the town of Taluzeh in the Marjeyoun district, simultaneously with artillery shelling of the town.
