A reporter from the "National News Agency" reported intense shelling in the outskirts of the village of Halta and the outskirts of Kfarshouba, with shells landing near homes in Halta. Additionally, reconnaissance drones were flying at low altitudes. The shelling targeted the outskirts of Rashaya al-Fukhar in the Hasbaya district, and the edges of Shabaa, Kfarshouba, and the heights of al-Habariya and Kfarkala, as well as al-Duhayra and Almaal al-Shaab. An Israeli drone targeted the vicinity of Kfarkala in the eastern sector of southern Lebanon with two missiles, following the fall of a shell in a United Nations facility without causing injuries. Today, Hamas announced the launch of 20 rockets from Lebanon towards two Israeli settlements in northern Israel.
Hezbollah fighters attacked Israeli army positions and a border village in the north today, prompting Israeli retaliation with strikes in Lebanon, while United Nations peacekeeping forces warned of escalating border clashes. Hezbollah managed to strike 10 iron towers along the "wall" separating the settlement of "Metula" from the towns of Adaysseh and Kfarkala, with each tower equipped with 4 to 6 surveillance cameras facing Lebanese territory.
The armed group and Israeli paramedics reported that a Hezbollah attack on the agricultural village of Shatula, located opposite the Lebanese town of Aita al-Shaab, resulted in one death and three injuries, as the worst violence at the border since the month-long war in 2006 enters its second week. Hezbollah also targeted an Israeli military barracks in Hanita with guided missiles, claiming to have inflicted casualties on "the enemy."
The Israeli army stated it conducted airstrikes on Lebanon in response to the attack and declared a no-go zone for civilians within four kilometers of the Lebanese border. Three security sources confirmed to "Reuters" that Israeli artillery shelled several areas in the south. The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' armed wing, reported firing 20 rockets from Lebanon at two Israeli settlements. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) noted that its headquarters in southern Lebanon was struck by a rocket, but no one was injured. They are working to determine the source of the projectile.
UNIFIL’s statement indicated, “Our headquarters in Naqoura was hit by a rocket, and we are working to verify its source. UNIFIL peacekeepers were not in shelters at that time, and fortunately, no one was harmed.” They added, “We are actively working with authorities on both sides of the blue line to calm the situation. Unfortunately, despite our efforts, military escalation continues.”
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated today that Israel does not wish to initiate war on its northern front. He added that if Hezbollah exercises restraint, Israel will respect the status quo along the border. He told reporters, “We do not want a war in the north. We do not want to escalate the situation.” He continued, “If Hezbollah chooses the path of war, it will surely pay a heavy price. However, if it exercises restraint, we will respect that and keep the situation as is.”
An Israeli hostile drone struck two missiles at a target in the al-Awida hill west of Kfarkala, near a Lebanese Army center, without causing any injuries. Hezbollah expressed its readiness to fight Israel and stated it would not be swayed by calls from Arab nations and foreign powers to remain on the sidelines. Sources revealed that Hezbollah planned for its movements to be limited in scope thus far, to prevent an escalation of conflict in Lebanon while keeping Israeli forces occupied.
Israeli media reported that security forces asked residents of the Metula settlement bordering Lebanon to close their doors and stay indoors due to fears of infiltration. Israeli paramedics had reported that one person was killed and three others were injured in an attack targeting a village near the Lebanese border. As a result, the Israeli army declared a no-go zone for civilians within four kilometers of the Lebanese border today and stated it was “deliberately disrupting GPS services in the area and on the southern front with Gaza as part of its operations.”
Major military spokesperson Admiral Daniel Hagari stated on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), “Disruption of GPS services could impact application operations.” Hezbollah mourned one of its members named Hussein Kamal al-Masri.
Notably today, despite the escalating situation on the Lebanese front, Iran reassured Israel through its mission to the United Nations, stating: “The Iranian armed forces will not engage in military conflict with Israel unless it attacks Iran or Iranian interests or citizens.”
### Education Minister's Decision
In a related context, the Minister of Education and Higher Education in the caretaker government, Dr. Abbas Halabi, amended the previous decision regarding the closure of schools in the southern regions, limiting the closure to official and private schools located in villages adjacent to the international southern border only. Classes will resume in all other schools located in various districts. He urged citizens to follow the ministry’s daily announcements for updates and to ensure the school year begins smoothly.
