Israeli strikes on Rashaya al-Foukhar, southern Lebanon, Nov. 21, 2024. (Credit: AFP)
On Friday morning, the invading Israeli army entered the predominantly Christian village of Deir Mimas, in southern Lebanon and established a position on a road linking several localities in the Marjayoun district, our correspondent reported citing local and security sources.
Meanwhile for several days now, Hezbollah continues to confront the Israeli army's attempts to control Khiam, also in the Marjayoun district. The party also claims to have fired on Israeli positions in the Shamaa (Sour) and Yaroun (Bint Jbeil).
Local sources in Deir Mimas confirmed to L’Orient Today that Israeli forces entered the village during the night. A resident reported waking to find Israeli soldiers and vehicles on the streets, though no clashes occurred within the village itself.
Heavy fighting, however, was reported on Thursday near the village, approximately 2.5 kilometers from the border.
The resident expressed fears that the Israeli army would blow up buildings in area, as it had done in dozens of other villages in the border zone. According to him, 10 families remain in the village.
An Israeli checkpoint has been established at the "Morcos station crossroads" to the west of the village, with a bulldozer and tank blocking the road, local sources said.
A bulldozer and a tank are blocking the road, sources told our correspondent.
A joint convoy of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the Lebanese Army reportedly attempted to pass the checkpoint while traveling from the Nabatieh to the Marjayoun district. While Israeli forces allowed UNIFIL vehicles through, they prevented the Lebanese soldiers from proceeding, the same sources added.
Kfar Kila, Shamaa, Yaroun
Israeli army tanks have reportedly been deployed along the "Khardali" road at a key crossroads connecting Kfar Kila, Qlayaa, and Burj al-Muluk in the Marjayoun district, blocking the road and preventing passage, according to our correspondent. Residents have been urged to avoid using the road, he added.
Kfar Kila lies a few kilometers southeast of Deir Mimas.
The Lebanese Army blocked the road from the Khardali checkpoint after the Israeli army positioned itself at the entrance to Deir Mimas near the Morqos station, reported our correspondent in southern Lebanon.
The invasion in the Marjayoun district comes as the Israeli army and Hezbollah continue to clash on the eastern outskirts of Khiam, which the Israelis have been trying to take control of for several days after a first attempt failed at the end of October.
Overnight, Hezbollah claimed to have targeted Israeli soldiers in Shamaa, in the western border region, and in Yaroun, located in the Bint Jbeil district.
