BEIRUT: Israeli forces resumed shelling in southern Lebanon on Wednesday following a period of uneasy, relative calm, targeting border towns, valleys and forests.
Two people were injured in an airstrike on the town of Khiam and taken to Marjayoun Hospital. Aircraft also hit Wadi Hujeir and carried out strikes on the outskirts of the town of Qabrikha, on the area between the towns of Aainata and Kounine, and on the outskirts of the town of Bani Haiyyan.
The Israeli army said 鈥渨arplanes shelled rocket-launch platforms in the areas of Kounine and Qabrikha in southern Lebanon.鈥� Israeli artillery also targeted the outskirts of the villages of Beit Lif and Ramyah.
In Israel, sirens sounded in the settlements of Zar鈥檌t, Shtula, Netu鈥檃, Dishon and Al-Malikiyah, and in Ramot Naftali in western Galilee.
The Israeli army said that 鈥�60 rockets were launched from Lebanon toward the northern region, causing fires in several settlements in Upper Galilee, which firefighting teams worked to extinguish.鈥�
Hezbollah said it shelled 鈥渢he headquarters of the Sahel Battalion in the Beit Hillel barracks, and enemy artillery positions in Dishon with volleys of Katyusha rockets,鈥� and launched attacks 鈥渢argeting Israeli soldiers in the Zar鈥檌t barracks (the headquarters of the battalion affiliated with the Western Brigade) with artillery shells, hitting them directly.鈥�
Israeli media reported 鈥渢wo injuries in the Dishon area in Galilee, where several rockets fell after being launched from Lebanon.鈥� There were also reports that 鈥渁 rocket fell in the Kfar Blum area in Upper Galilee,鈥� 鈥渁 fire broke out in the Kiryat Shmona settlement due to rockets launched from Lebanon,鈥� and additional rockets struck between Kiryat Shmona and Beit Hillel.
Israeli army media advised settlers in Kiryat Shmona 鈥渢o remain near shelters and avoid moving around the city until further notice.鈥� Upper Galilee Regional Council similarly urged citizens in several towns to 鈥渟tay close to shelters, avoid gatherings and decrease movement.鈥�
In its latest report, the Alma Research and Education Center in Israel said 281 attacks on the country originated from Lebanon in August, compared with 259 in July.
鈥淢ost of these attacks were carried out by Hezbollah, along with other organizations,鈥� it said. 鈥淭he average number of daily attacks reached nine in August, compared with 8.3 attacks in July, with Hezbollah confirming its responsibility for the vast majority of them.鈥�
The Hezbollah attacks resulted in 鈥渢he deaths of three Israelis and injuries to 30 others鈥� last month, it added.
鈥淭he middle of the month saw an escalation in Hezbollah鈥檚 assaults, which continued until Aug. 25, when Israeli forces conducted a preemptive strike to thwart Hezbollah鈥檚 response to the assassination of (its military leader) Fuad Shukr,鈥� the research center said.
The report noted a subsequent 鈥渄ecline in attacks,鈥� suggesting that 鈥渢he intensity of these attacks coincided with the Israeli military鈥檚 targeting of Hezbollah operatives鈥� and were 鈥減otentially aimed at exhausting Israeli defense systems in preparation for a planned retaliatory strike on Aug. 25.鈥�
It added: 鈥淜iryat Shmona was an important target for Hezbollah attacks, which resulted in the death of one civilian and injuries to 28 others, in addition to heavy losses to industrial facilities, educational institutions, residential properties, cemeteries and commercial complexes.鈥�
The report also stated: 鈥淒uring August, Hezbollah used the term 鈥榓ppropriate weapons鈥� to refer to various types of armaments. Previously, this term in their statements was specifically associated with anti-tank missiles. In August, however, it became evident that the term encompassed artillery fire, anti-tank missiles and drones.鈥�
Last month, it added, there was 鈥渁n increase in (Hezbollah鈥檚) utilization of long-range missiles, with 176 missiles launched compared with 137 in July. Additionally, the number of drone attacks rose to 62 in August, up from 56 in July. Throughout August, Hezbollah employed surface-to-air missiles and sniper fire.鈥�