Sabah Fahs' funeral, on Sept. 5, 2024, in Qabrikha, South Lebanon. Fahs was killed on Wednesday by an Israeli strike. (Credit: Photo provided by our correspondent Muntasser Abdallah)
A Hezbollah fighter was killed at dawn on Thursday in an Israeli strike on the village of Kafra, in the South Lebanon's Bint Jbeil district, an attack to which the Hezbollah said it retaliated by targeting the Israeli military position of Ya'ara with a fleet of drones.
Kafra was bombed at around 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, killing one person and wounding another, according to the Health Ministry. Shortly after, Hezbollah announced the death of its fighter Abbas Ayoub, born in 1988 and originally from Selaa in southern Lebanon. Our correspondent in the region confirmed that he was killed in Kafra.
Prior to this deadly attack, Wednesday night was marked by violent Israeli airstrikes, with 20 attacks targeting various forested areas along the borders. Most notably, the outskirts of the following villages were targeted: Jibbein and Shihhine, in the sour district; Yater, Ramieh and Salhani, in the Bint Jbeil district; Zaoutar al-Gharbieh, in the Nabatieh district; and Alman and Deir Syrian, in the Marjayoun district.
Israeli strikes cause fires
The explosions from Wednesday's Israeli airstrikes were heard by residents in several border areas, and fires broke out following the attacks.
After the strikes, Israeli drones repeatedly targeted roads leading to the affected areas to hinder firefighters' access.
The Israeli army alleged to have "attacked more than 10 Hezbollah launch pads and military infrastructure." The army's Arabic spokesman, Avichay Adraee, claimed on X that they "represented a threat to Israeli citizens," attaching a video of the strikes to his post.
During the day, Israeli artillery fire targeted the towns of Aita al-Shaab and Beit Lif, in the Bint Jbeil district, as well as a house in Mais al-Jabal (Marjayoun).
Hezbollah responds
In response to the strike on Kafra and the assassination of its fighter, Hezbollah announced that it launched a fleet of exploding drones on the Israeli army's "new headquarters of the 300th brigade-east," in the Ya'ara barracks, facing the Lebanese town of Alma al-Shaab (Sour).
Other Hezbollah strikes during the day targeted "the Ramot Naftali barracks," facing Lebanese Aitaroun (Bint Jbeil), in a "coordinated attack, with a squadron of drones and Katyusha rockets." The group also launched drones at "the headquarters of the Sahel Battalion, in the Beit Hillel barracks," opposite Lebanese Houla (Marjayoun). Hezbollah also targeted soldiers at a position facing the Lebanese village of Mais al-Jabal, as well as the "Malikieh" site opposite Aita al-Shaab.
Later, Hezbollah announced that it launched missiles at the Israeli Rowaissat al-Alam, located in the disputed hills of Kfar Shuba, hitting it directly. Lastly, the party announced that it targeted "spy equipment" in the Israeli site of Birket Risha
Rockets and drones' interception
According to the Israeli army, quoted by the daily Haaretz, rockets and drones did indeed target northern Israel. "Some of them were intercepted," added the army, which also claimed that no injuries were reported.
Civilian killed in Wednesday Israeli attack
On the Lebanese side of the border, the village of Qabrikha Thursday bid farewell to Sabah Fahs, known as Oum Ziad, killed the Wednesday by an Israeli artillery strike.
Ayoub Hmayed, a member of parliament from the Amal movement, Melhem Khalaf, a member of parliament from the Forces of Change, Islamic dignitaries and a crowd of residents attended the procession, reported our correspondent in region.
