•Site of an overnight Israeli air strike in southern Lebanon
Lebanese state media said the Israeli army today detonated explosives planted inside houses in three border villages that have been battered by the Israel-Hezbollah war.
Hezbollah says it is engaged in fighting Israeli forces in the area, more than a month into an Israeli ground invasion aimed at pushing the Iran-backed group away from the border, reports AFP.
“Since this morning, the Israeli enemy’s army has been carrying out bombing operations inside the villages of Yaroun, Aitaroun and Maroun al-Ras in the Bint Jbeil area, with the aim of destroying residential homes there,” the official National News Agency said.
Israeli forces also conducted a raid in the nearby town of Bint Jbeil, NNA said, after Hezbollah said it targeted Israeli troops in the flashpoint border region.
Hezbollah said yesterday it had “ambushed” Israeli ground forces attempting to infiltrate Yaroun.
The Iran-backed group has claimed eight operations since Wednesday targeting Israeli troops on the outskirts of Maroun al-Ras.
Today’s explosions are the latest in a string of similar incidents that have impacted the border area.
According to NNA, Israeli troops blew up buildings in at least seven border villages last month.
Footage verified by our correspondent on Monday showed massive blasts that ripped through Mais al-Jabal and reduced homes to rubble.
Israel’s Channel 12 last month broadcast footage appearing to show one of its presenters blow up a building while embedded with soldiers in the village of Aita al-Shaab.
Israel has been at war with Lebanon’s Hezbollah since late September when it broadened its focus from fighting Hamas in Gaza to securing its northern border.
It escalated its air campaign and later sent in ground forces into the country’s south.
This came after a year of cross-border exchanges with Hezbollah, which has said it was acting in support of Hamas Palestinian militants fighting Israel in Gaza.
