BEIRUT: Hezbollah has stepped up its operations against Israeli forces by targeting military positions across the southern border of Lebanon, Arab media reported on Tuesday.
Meanwhile Israel has also intensified its ground assault on the Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces while responding to the Hezbollah activity launched air and military strikes on Lebanese villages and towns, reportedly using phosphorus shells. It is to be noted that use of such weapons in civilian areas is forbidden under international law.
Lebanon’s agriculture minister, Abbas Hajj Hassan, said that Israeli army intentionally burnt more than 40,000 old olive trees with white phosphorus bombs.
Hezbollah claims to hit Israeli forces
Hezbollah said it had hit an Israeli force positioned on Al-Khazzan Hill in the vicinity of the Israeli Orontes site. During the attack guided missiles were used.
The group also claimed to hit the Israeli Al-Marj site in Wadi Hunin, opposite the Lebanese town of Markaba, with guided missiles.
UN Interim Force in Lebanon has activated their sirens several times on Monday night as a result of Israeli bombing in the south of the country.
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According to Amnesty International has expressed concern over the current deployment of phosphorous weapons by Israeli forces.
Aya Majzoub, the organization’s deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa, said the Israeli military while using white phosphorus bombs does not distinguish between civilians and military personnel which is open violation of international humanitarian law.
Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer has said his countries does not seek escalation in southern Lebanon but must be prepared for that.
