Jerusalem: Israeli forces struck “a number of Hezbollah terror targets” after several “launches” crossed into northern Israel from Lebanon, which fell into “open areas”.
In a statement, Israeli army said the fighter jets targeted “terrorist infrastructure and military posts used for weapons storage and by terrorist operatives”.
However, there was no immediate response from the Lebanese armed group about the Israeli strikes.
On the other hand, an Israeli military spokesperson urged Palestinian civilians in Gaza’s southern area of Khan Younis to adhere to the army’s instructions meant to keep them out of harm’s way as fighting intensifies.
“What civilians should do to stay safe is listen to the instructions that are coming out from our Twitter accounts, from our website, and also to look at the leaflets that are landing in their areas,”
Spokesperson Richard Hecht told reporters.
A World Health Organisation (WHO) official in Gaza said the situation there is deteriorating by the hour as Israeli bombing has intensified in the south of the enclave around the cities of Khan Younis and Rafah, Reuters reports.
“The situation is getting worse by the hour,” Richard Peeperkorn, WHO representative on the occupied Palestinian territory, told reporters via video link from Gaza.
“There’s intensified bombing going on all around, including here in the southern areas, Khan Younis and even in Rafah,” they said.
Meanwhile, Qatar’s emir has issued a stinging rebuke of Israel in opening remarks of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in Doha.
“Israel’s occupation forces have violated all political, ethical and humanitarian values,” Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani said in translated comments.
“It is a disgrace upon the international community to allow this heinous crime to continue with systemic and purposeful killing of innocent unarmed civilians,” Sheikh Tamim added in his opening address.
“This is a genocide committed by Israel.”
The Qatari emir added that Palestinians should be commended for “holding steadfast to their just cause” and called on the need for a full lasting ceasefire.