At least six people have been killed in fresh Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, the Lebanese state news agency NNA reported on Thursday.
It said four people were killed in an attack on the southern town of Abbāssiyyah, with two additional deaths following Israeli attacks on the coastal city of Tyre and in Baalbek in the east.
Meanwhile, Israeli ground forces advanced into southern Lebanon. They had taken “operational control” of the Wadi Saluki valley, the Israeli army said.
The area lies between the Litani River – a key dividing line in the conflict between Israel and the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia – and the Lebanese-Israeli border.
The valley was already a battleground during the 2006 war between the two sides. Lebanese security sources reported renewed heavy attacks in the south of the country.
Israel’s army also announced Thursday evening that it had recently killed members of the militant Hezbollah militia in southern Lebanon who had fled from a tunnel there.
In a statement, the Israeli military said it is taking action against Hezbollah and its facilities in the south of the neighbouring country to protect people in northern Israel from attacks by the militia.
Hezbollah strikes again too – alarm in northern Israel
The Iran-backed Hezbollah stated that it had used drones to attack an artillery post belonging to the Israeli army and gatherings of soldiers. It also claimed to have shot down an Israeli drone with an anti-aircraft missile.
The Israeli army reported a “suspicious flying object” that had triggered warning sirens in northern Israel. Two projectiles struck near Israeli soldiers.
Guterres sees 'significant' escalation
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in an X post that since March there has been what he called "a serious escalation – as Israel intensified its operations in Lebanese territory & Hizbullah fired deeper into Israel."
"All parties must work towards a diplomatic settlement that fully respects the territorial integrity, sovereignty & political independence of Lebanon," Guterres wrote.
"The process must start with a comprehensive ceasefire respected by all parties everywhere, alleviating the suffering of communities on both sides of the Blue Line," the UN secretary-general added. "I hope further negotiations will contribute to lasting peace & stability."
