The southern front of Lebanon witnessed an unprecedented escalation today, Thursday, characterized by the use of explosive drones for the first time by Hezbollah, as well as the firing of surface-to-air missiles and continuous targeting through a significant number of operations. This situation foreshadows further escalation on the eve of the speech by Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, prompting the Israeli army to urge residents of Kiryat Shmona to take shelter. Hezbollah also warned residents of southern towns against using the roads to Kfarkela, Adaisseh, and Markaba due to heavy bombardment risks. According to the newspaper "Maariv," the northern front is expected to brace for more escalation in the coming hours.
On a related note, Hamas announced in a statement on Telegram that its military wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, shelled Kiryat Shmona and its surroundings in northern Israel today, using 12 rockets. Israeli media reported that two people were injured due to massive fires that broke out. The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon stated that it targeted 19 military sites and points all at once along the Lebanese border with Palestine.
As for the Israeli military, it expanded the scope of its attacks for the second time in a week, for the first time since the July 2006 war, targeting the western edges of the town of Yahr in Shakif, where two artillery shells landed on the valley road leading to the river in an open area close to residential homes, without causing any injuries. In addition, the area around the town of Hula was subjected to more than 100 artillery shells. The Israeli bombardment also hit a house in the town of Sheihin in the western sector.
Hezbollah announced through its military media that "Islamic Resistance fighters attacked the occupation's battalion command post in the Zabdine barracks in the occupied Shebaa Farms using two explosive drones, which struck their targets accurately inside the mentioned barracks." The National News Agency reported the targeting of the Israeli Gurdag site opposite the town of Dhahira, and the outskirts of Marwahin also faced artillery bombings.
Reports indicated that today, Thursday, the Israeli military post Al-Aasi, opposite Mais al-Jabal, was targeted, as well as the Israeli Merj site opposite the town of Markaba with several rockets. The Islamic Resistance released a statement saying, "With great pride, we announce the martyrdom of the Islamic Resistance fighter Hisham Mohammed Ismail 'Hamza' from the town of Mais al-Jabal in southern Lebanon, who was martyred on the road to Jerusalem." Israel conducted a series of airstrikes targeting areas in "Albounaa" in Naqoura, as well as the outskirts of Tyrehfa, Sheihin, and Aytron.
Additionally, the Israeli army reported that "25 rocket and shell launches toward Israeli positions along the North Lebanese border were carried out simultaneously." The Israeli army launched two missiles from a drone at the eastern neighborhood of Adaisseh near the Misgav Am settlement, and Israeli drones conducted airstrikes on the region of Tuffah, causing a loud explosion.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army spokesman, Avichay Adraee, indicated that "Israeli forces recently struck a cell responsible for firing anti-tank shells from Lebanese territory into Israeli areas, where a direct hit was reported. Additionally, forces targeted two locations that launched anti-tank shells inside Lebanese territory. It was reported that enemies fired an anti-tank shell from Lebanon towards a defense army site in the Manara area, resulting in no injuries."
In contrast, Hezbollah targeted the Israeli Al-Abad site opposite the town of Hula with a guided missile, as well as the Marnara Israeli site with another guided missile. The Islamic Resistance stated, "At 11:50 AM on Thursday, Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the espionage system at the Al-Abad site using appropriate weapons, and it was hit directly."
Earlier in the morning, intense bombardments were reported in the eastern sector at the southern Lebanese borders, where the Israeli army targeted the Kfar Shouya hills and Shebaa Farms, as well as the vicinity of the town of Ramish with multiple shells, including a house on the outskirts of Aita al-Chaab and near Ramia towards the town of Bayt Leif.
