Smoke rises in south Lebanon amid Israeli shelling across the border

(12 Jul 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Zawtar Al Charkieh, south Lebanon - 12 July 2024
1. Various of smoke rising from Odaisseh in south Lebanon (00.00 -0.29)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Marjayoun, south Lebanon - 12 July 2024
2. Various of smoke rising from Kfar Kila (0.30-0.42)
3. Various of smoke rising from Rashaya Fakhar (0.42-0.51)
STORYLINE:
Smoke plumes were seen rising in southern Lebanon on Friday as Israel continued its near daily strikes and shelling, hitting the towns of Odaisseh, Kfar Kila and Rashaya Fakhar.
The Iranian-backed group Hezbollah and Israel have been trading almost daily exchanges of fire since the Israel-Hamas war broke out last year.
Hezbollah says it is striking Israel in solidarity with Hamas, another Iran-allied group that ignited the war in Gaza with its October 7 attack into southern Israel.
The group’s leadership says it will stop its attacks once there is a cease-fire in Gaza, and that while it does not want war, it is ready for one.
As tensions continue to boil in southern Lebanon, diplomats continue to scramble to deescalate the situation, fearing a full-scale war in Lebanon could turn regional and lead to a possible direct military confrontation of Iran.
Hezbollah is far more powerful than its allies in the Gaza Strip, equipped with a larger and more sophisticated arsenal of rockets, and has recently revealed its fleet of exploding drones and anti-air defence system.
The fighting since October 8 has displaced tens of thousands of people on both sides of the border.
In northern Israel, 16 soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed.
In Lebanon, more than 450 people - mostly fighters but also dozens of civilians - have been killed.
AP video by Ramez Dallah
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