BEIRUT: The Israeli military has targeted places of worship in southern Lebanon for the first time in its war against Hezbollah, Arab media reported on Wednesday.
For the past 100 days, the Israel Defense Forces have targeted residential areas, infrastructure and forests in the border area, but on Wednesday an Israeli drone targeted the National Evangelical Church in the center of the town of Alma Al-Shaab, causing major damage to the building including home of the church’s cleric, Pastor Rabie Talib.
Meanwhile, the Israeli forces fired five smoke shells at Syrian workers in a grape orchard in the Wazzani plain but no casualties were reported.
According to a security source Israeli forces consider any activity in the area to be associated with Hezbollah. The ultimate goal of the bombing is to isolate and directly target bordering towns.
An Israeli drone raided a house near the mosque in the town of Aita al-Shaab, causing the house to burn into ashes.
The Israeli attacks aimed at the town of Hula, specifically targeted houses. However, no one was injured and only material damage took place.
While Israeli artillery hit the Marjayoun Plain and the area located on the outskirts of Deir Mimas town with three shells. Videos showed the massive damage to houses, roads, and infrastructure.
Hezbollah targets Israeli soldiers
Hezbollah also claimed to target a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of the Raheb site with appropriate weapons.
Hezbollah Chief Hassan Nasrallah announced on Sunday said that the group is ready for “unrestricted warfare” with Israel amidst escalated tensions and cross-border exchanges of fire. Nasrallah’s statement came a week after a senior Hezbollah commander, Wissam al-Tawil, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon.
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Tensions along Lebanon’s border with Israel have been escalating since the Israeli army initiated a military offensive in the Gaza Strip following an attack by Hamas on October 7.
The recent exchange of cross-border fire between Hezbollah and Israeli forces has led to the deadliest clashes since the full-scale war between the two sides in 2006.
