Hezbollah group said it fired missiles on Israel on Wednesday drawing retaliatory Israeli fire, the recent missile attack by Lebanon’s Iran-backed comes after three of its members were killed earlier this week amid soaring border tensions.
The exchange of recent fire came as Israel massed armies and heavy armor around Gaza in its retaliatory campaign against the Palestinian militants Hamas in a fight that has left hundreds dead on both sides.
The group said in a statement that Hezbollah “targeted a Zionist (Israeli) position… facing Dhayra village, with guided missiles,” in a “firm response to Zionist attacks… which led to the martyrdom of a number of brothers.”
The group alerted of a “decisive” response to Israeli raids “targeting our nation and the safety of our people, particularly when these assaults lead to the casualties of martyrs”.
“In response to the anti-tank missiles that were launched at… soldiers a short while ago, the IDF (army) is currently striking in Lebanese territory”, the Israeli army said.
Two civilians had sustained “light injuries” in the border village of Dhayra, where an AFP correspondent reported shelling near to residential areas that began fires in nearby groves, Lebanon’s National News Agency said.
Israeli fire on several locations along the border had been “countered by resistance machine guns”, the NNA said.
An AFP correspondent in the southern town of Qlaileh heard noisy blasts, probably from rocket fire.
Hezbollah said on Monday that three of its members had been killed in Israeli strikes on south Lebanon following Palestinian militants attempted to slip across the border.
Both Israel and its closest partner the United States have warned Hezbollah against opening a second front as Israel fights Hamas in Gaza.
The Israeli army is “prepared for any scenario”, spokesman Daniel Hagari told reporters.
“Hezbollah is observing what Israel is doing in Gaza, it sees the volume of the destruction. Hezbollah sees this and understands,” he said.
