New Israeli advance toward Ghandourieh; deadly strikes near Sour and Nabatieh

BEIRUT — Last night and Friday morning were marked by heavy violence in south Lebanon, with no lull in fighting after the cease-fire announced earlier this week was rejected by Hezbollah and has not yet been approved in Israel. On the ground, deadly strikes have continued since the night, with attacks concentrated in the Nabatieh district.

Meanwhile, Israeli ground troops once again attempted to advance toward Ghandourieh, a village in the north of the Bint Jbeil district in the central sector.

At least 11 killed overnight

The Israeli army carried out strikes overnight in the south which killed at least eleven people, including seven in Sour, according to our correspondent in south Lebanon and civil defense.

Three Israeli strikes hit a building near Jabal Amel Hospital in Sour, killing four and injuring seven, according to a civil defense source cited by AFP. Another attack killed three people and injured five, including two children, according to the same source.

According to our correspondent, two other people were killed in Habboush (Nabatieh district) in a drone strike that hit the motorcycle they were riding.

A strike on a building opposite the local gendarmerie post in Doueir (Nabatieh) killed one person. Another Israeli strike killed a person in Burj Qalaway (Bint Jbeil).

Meanwhile, an elderly couple is has been reported missing after traveling yesterday morning to the village of Sowaneh (Marjeyoun district) in a black Mercedes. Their fate remains unknown at this stage.

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At around 4:30 a.m., Israeli troops carried out another large-scale demolition operation in the city of Bint Jbeil, the 19th such operation against this Shiite town since the nominal cease-fire of April 19.

New attempt at Israeli advance

According to our correspondent, Israeli soldiers once again attempted to expand their advance toward the village of Ghandourieh (Bint Jbeil district), where they nearly fell into an ambush by Hezbollah fighters.

Hezbollah rocket fire and explosive mines targeted Israeli troops, forcing them to withdraw under intense artillery, phosphorous shell, and smoke bomb fire. The clashes occurred around 10:30 p.m. last night, according to a statement published on the "war media" Telegram channel of Hezbollah, claiming responsibility for the ambush.

The group claimed to have fired another salvo of rockets at Israeli armored vehicles positioned in the neighboring village of Qantara (Marjayoun), on the other side of the strategic Wadi Houjeir valley, which the Israeli army has been trying to cross for several weeks.

Subsequent airstrikes targeted nearby villages to cover the withdrawal and evacuation of wounded Israeli soldiers. Among thee localities was Burj Qalaway, where one person was killed and another injured. An Israeli attack helicopter also fired a missile toward Ghandourieh.

Hezbollah also reported new overnight attacks against Israeli troops positioned near Beaufort Castle, a strategic point south of Nabatieh. Hezbollah said it fired a salvo of "sophisticated rockets" at 11:30 p.m. at vehicles and soldiers near the medieval fortress. An hour later, Hezbollah fighters launched "a precision missile" at the same target, according to statements published on Telegram.

Evacuations in the Saida district

Since Friday morning, the Israeli army has also ordered the evacuation of a series of new villages in South Lebanon, mainly in the Saida district.

North of the Zahrani River, residents of Aarnaya and Anqoun were ordered to move about one kilometer away ahead of strikes, while south of the river, Sarafand, Tefahta, Bablieh, Qaaqaaiyet al-Snoubar, Marwanieh, and Saksakieh were threatened. In the Nabatiyeh district, residents of Kfar Fila were also ordered to evacuate.

After Israeli threats targeting Aarnaba, a Christian neighborhood in the east of Maghdoucheh, the head of the municipal council, Raef Younan, told our correspondent that he did not think Maghdoucheh was being targeted and that he was "coordinating" with the relevant authorities.