BEIRUT: Fears of a major escalation in southern Lebanon grew on Friday as separate Israeli strikes killed two Hezbollah and two Hamas members.
One of the Hamas members was Samer Al-Hajj, the group's security officer in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain Al-Hilweh, who was killed when the car he was in was hit by a missile fired from an Israeli drone. The incident occurred in Sidon, 44 kilometers from Beirut, and was the first time the city has been targeted.
Two Hezbollah members were killed in an earlier attack on Naquora.
Hostilities continued on Friday as the Lebanese government – where Hezbollah is also represented – welcomed a joint statement by the leaders of Egypt, Qatar and the United States.
The statement stressed “the need to immediately end the suffering of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, reach a ceasefire and reach an agreement to release hostages and prisoners.”
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The fear of the conflict expanding in the Middle East has caused more airlines to cancel their flights to Lebanon.
It also called on the two parties to the conflict “to resume urgent discussions to overcome the remaining obstacles to reach the desired agreement.”
Lebanon's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that “the trilateral statement included embodies Lebanon's vision to diffuse tensions in the region and avoid a full-scale regional war according to a fundamental first step, which is the immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2735, which is based on initiative of US President Joe Biden.”
It stressed “the need to exert maximum pressure on Israel to force it to sit at the negotiating table and implement UN Security Council Resolution 2735 without delay.”
The Lebanese statement came as the Israeli Broadcasting Authority announced that “residents of the cities on the border with Lebanon must remain close to safe areas until further notice.”
On Friday, Israeli drones were also seen flying over border villages, including Yahoun, Kounine and Bint Jbeil, using loudspeakers to broadcast provocative messages in Arabic against Hezbollah and its Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, prompting gunmen to respond by firing machine guns at them.
The government of Cyprus declared “its readiness to help evacuate European civilians from Lebanon.”
The US Embassy in Beirut reiterated in a statement on Friday that it “encourages those wishing to leave Lebanon to book any ticket available to them, even if that flight does not depart immediately or does not follow their preferred route.”
It recommended that “U.S. citizens who choose not to leave Lebanon prepare emergency preparedness plans and be prepared to shelter in place for an extended period.”
Fears of the conflict expanding in the Middle East have prompted several airlines to cancel flights to Lebanon, including Air Algerie and Air India.
Royal Jordanian resumed flights to Beirut after stopping them since 29 July.
The UK advised UK airlines “not to enter Lebanese airspace from 8 August to 4 November”, citing “a potential risk to aviation from military activity”.
On the first day of the 11th month of ongoing hostilities, more Israeli killings of Hezbollah field cadres were reported following further Israeli incursions into Lebanese airspace, as well as its ability to infiltrate landline and mobile phone calls and the Internet network.
Hezbollah announced the deaths of Mehdi Mahmoud Ksaibani, 30, from Harouf, and Hadi Jihad Deeb, 27, from Bafliyeh, southern Lebanon, who died in an Israeli raid on Naqoura on Friday morning.
Israel targeted Aita Al-Shaab and a house in Hanaouay on Thursday night and Friday morning. The house was empty, but five civilians in nearby houses were injured, according to the health ministry.
Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee said Israel's targets were “Hezbollah's command headquarters in Hanaouay and infrastructure in Aita Al-Shaab.”
A Lebanese security source said Hezbollah responded with a series of attacks that were limited to “Israeli military, strategic and logistical bases, in response to specific Israeli attacks, while avoiding civilian targets.
Israel's Army Radio reported “several attacks on the settlement (Kiryat Shmona)”, adding that “the last volley included 10 rockets fired from Lebanon at the settlement.”
Israeli media said five explosions were heard and a missile landed in Kiryat Shmona.
Hezbollah said it bombed “the command headquarters of the 769th Brigade in the Kiryat Shmona barracks with a salvo of Katyusha rockets, in response to Israel's attacks on Hanaouay.” It also targeted a “gathering of Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of Metula with missile weapons.”
In response to the attack on Naqoura, Hezbollah launched a squadron of precision drones at the command headquarters of the Coastal Battalion belonging to the newly established Western Brigade in Liman, “targeting the positions and concentrations of its officers and soldiers.”
The group said it “hit its targets precisely and caused confirmed casualties.”
Hezbollah attacked “the Al-Sammaqa site in the occupied Lebanese Kfarchouba hills with rocket weapons” and “a building used by soldiers in the settlement of Manara.”
Israeli airstrikes hit the town of Tallouseh in the Marjeyoun district, at the same time as artillery fire on the town.
