Israel fires 50 shells into Lebanon after Hezbollah missile hits military convoy

A Lebanese Hezbollah group claimed responsibility for firing a missile that targeted an Israeli military convoy on Wednesday, an attack that prompted Israel to fire at least 50 artillery shells into Lebanon in a significant escalation along the volatile border. Hezbollah said the attack was carried out by a group calling itself the “heroic martyrs of Quneitra” in retaliation for an Israeli airstrike on the Golan Heights on Jan. 18 that killed six-Hezbollah fighters and an Iranian general. Israel confirmed an anti-tank missile hit one of their military vehicles near the Israeli-Lebanese border on Wednesday. It did not immediately report any casualties.

The attack in the Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms area was in response to an Israeli rocket attack in Syria, a source familiar with details of the operation said.

Reuters

Two Lebanese officials said the Israeli shelling targeted the border villages of Majidiyeh, Abbasiyeh and Kfar Chouba near the Shebaa Farms area. They spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. There were also no immediate reports of casualties. Families living on the border of the villages fled further within, fearing they’d be hit, said the officials, who are based in south Lebanon. The latest salvos raised the possibility of renewed fighting along the Lebanese-Israel border, which has remained mostly quiet since a monthlong war in the summer of 2006.

Middle East Hezbollah