Beirut, Aug 2 (EFE).- Hezbollah intensified its attacks on Israeli military targets on Friday, claiming responsibility for four strikes as part of its routine crossfire.
The stepped up attacks follows the group’s vow to retaliate for the recent killing of its top commander, Fuad Shukr, in an Israeli attack.
The attacks included an artillery strike on soldiers in northern Israel, a rocket launch at a military post, and additional artillery fire at a second position.
Hezbollah also reported that shortly before midnight, its air defense unit fired missiles at Israeli fighter jets over southern Lebanon, “forcing them to retreat beyond the Lebanese borders into occupied Palestine.”
Since the bombing that killed Shukr on Tuesday night, Hezbollah had not claimed any new attacks until now. Their previous response involved the deaths of four Syrian civilians in Chama, southern Lebanon.
These recent strikes are seen as part of the ongoing border conflict that began on October 8, the day after the Gaza war started.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah had announced on Thursday that the group would respond strongly to the bombing that killed Shukr, an Iranian military adviser, and five civilians on the outskirts of Beirut, injuring nearly 80 others.
The Middle East remains on high alert, anticipating further responses from Hezbollah and Iran, following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran early Wednesday. EFE
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