After a cautious calm prevailed in the border area on Monday, amid mutual mobilization between Israel and Hezbollah, tensions resurfaced in the afternoon. The "National News Agency" reported that surveillance cameras at the Jourdah site in the town of Dhahira and at the Zahr al-Jamal site opposite the town of Ramya in southern Lebanon were targeted. The Israeli army retaliated by shelling the outskirts of Dhahira with artillery, as well as the town of Yarin and the outskirts of the town of Al-Jabin with heavy shelling of various calibers.
Subsequently, shelling resumed on the town of Al-Bustan and Berkeh Risha, accompanied by extensive reconnaissance flights in the area. Gunfire was reported from the Misgav Am settlement, and there was heavy artillery shelling on the outskirts of the town of Rmeish. It appears that Israel suspects infiltration or movement in the vicinity of the Sa'sa area. According to reports, around 20 phosphorus shells fell on Dhahira, and machine gun fire occurred near the Misgav Am settlement while sirens were activated from the UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura.
The "National Agency" reported that two homes in the town of Dhahira were damaged, with fires igniting inside them, and artillery fire on the outskirts of Al-Jabin in the western sector of the Tyre region. Additionally, reports emerged of injuries among civil defense personnel due to shrapnel from phosphorus shelling at their center in Al-Ma‘sher, including the center’s head, Khaled Qreitem.
Khaled Suwaid and his wife, along with their children, were reported to have suffered from suffocation in the town of Dhahira and were taken to hospitals in Tyre due to inhaling the internationally prohibited phosphorus material from the Israeli shelling.
On Monday evening, the Israeli army instructed residents of the Metula settlement to enter shelters in anticipation of an infiltration operation from Lebanon into Israel. The "Islamic Resistance" announced on Monday that they had "targeted five Israeli sites—Misgav Am, Khirbat Al-Manara, Hermon, Risha site, and Ramia site—with direct and appropriate weapons, achieving confirmed hits."
Hezbollah released footage of targeting Israeli tanks at the Haniyta site using guided missiles. The footage included monitoring the "Haniyta" settlement and the border site "Haniyta - Tabozina,” which is under the leadership of a company.
In a related context, the Israeli army indicated that a Merkava tank was hit by an anti-tank missile at the border with Lebanon. They reported that "their forces on the Lebanese border came under fire from Lebanon without any injuries, and they shelled the source of the fire." The Israeli army's artillery also targeted the town of Yarin with heavy fire from various calibers.
Israeli media indicated that the Israeli army's artillery is attacking targets in southern Lebanon.
In a related context, the Minister of Education and Higher Education in the caretaker government, Abbas Halabi, announced the continuation of the decision regarding the closure of schools in southern regions tomorrow, Tuesday, October 17, 2023. This closure is limited to official and private schools located in villages directly adjacent to the international southern border only, while studies will continue in all other schools in the districts. He encouraged citizens to follow the ministry's updates daily to monitor developments and to maintain the start of the academic year.
