Thursday | 20 February 2025 | Reg No- 06
বাংলা
   
Thursday | 20 February 2025 | Epaper

Israel, Hezbollah in deadly battles on Lebanon border 

Published : Friday, 4 October, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 178
BEIRUT, Oct 3: Israel's military said Thursday it killed 15 Hezbollah militants in an air strike on southern Lebanon, as the Iran-backed movement said it thwarted an Israeli advance at the border.

Israel announced this week that its troops had started "ground raids" into parts of southern Lebanon, a stronghold of Hezbollah, after days of heavy bombardment on areas across the country where the group holds sway.

The bombing has killed more than 1,000 people, according to Lebanon's health ministry, and forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes in a country already mired in economic and political crisis.

Israel, at war in Gaza since Hamas's October 7 attack, says it shifted its focus to secure its northern border and ensure the safe return of more than 60,000 people displaced by Hezbollah attacks over the past year.

On the Gaza front, the Israeli military said a strike three months ago killed three senior Hamas leaders, including Rahwi Mushtaha, the head of the militant movement's government in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory.

"Mushtaha was one of Hamas' most senior operatives and had a direct impact on decisions relating to Hamas' force deployment," the military said.

In Lebanon, the Israeli military said it conducted a strike overnight that killed 15 Hezbollah fighters in Bint Jbeil, an area heavily damaged during Israel's last war with the militant group in 2006.

Israel told Lebanese people to evacuate more than 20 villages and the city of Nabatiyeh.

"The IDF (Israeli army) does not intend to harm you, and for your own safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately and head north of the Awali River. Save your lives," said army spokesman Avichay Adraee said on X.

Hezbollah said it fought off a bid by Israeli troops to advance at Fatima's Gate on the border.

It also said it set off two explosive devices against advancing Israeli forces as it kept up its cross-border strikes, firing a barrage of rockets at the city of Tiberias in what it said was a response to the bombardment of Lebanese "towns, villages and civilians".

Earlier Thursday, Israel carried out a deadly air raid in downtown Beirut after eight of its ground troops were killed in combat near the border.

Multiple explosions in Beirut overnight were audible from kilometres (miles) away. AFP correspondents said buildings shook and they saw columns of smoke rising into the sky.

The strike in central Beirut hit an emergency services rescue facility run by Hezbollah, killing seven workers, the service said.

"We are peaceful civilians in our homes," said Hassan Ammar, 82, who had been staying in the high-rise building whose walls were partly blown out by the strike after he fled south Lebanon.

Israel has yet to comment on the strike, but said it had hit about 200 Hezbollah targets "in Lebanese territory".

The strike came after Hezbollah backer Iran launched its second, and largest, direct missile attack on Israel, prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to warn that Tehran would pay.    —AFP



LATEST NEWS
MOST READ
Also read
Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Online: 41053014; Advertisement: 41053012.
E-mail: [email protected], news©dailyobserverbd.com, advertisement©dailyobserverbd.com, For Online Edition: mailobserverbd©gmail.com
🔝
close