Israel launches airstrikes on 3 occupied Lebanese villages, demolishes homes in 2 others

SAIDA — Israel carried out four airstrikes on south Lebanon on Sunday morning, following a night of heavy artillery fire and house demolitions across the zone it occupies.

According to our correspondent, Israeli airstrikes hit Mansouri (Sour) twice starting at 9 a.m. Two more strikes hit Talloussa (Marjayoun) and Kfar Tibnit (Nabatieh). The three villages are inside or along the edge of the Israeli-claimed "buffer zone," which covers more than 600 square kilometers of Lebanese land it occupies.

Israeli forces continued demolitions between 9:30 and 11 a.m., blowing up several houses in Byout al-Siyad, on the coast south of Sour.

Shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday, Israeli forces had already blown up several houses in Haddatha (Bint Jbeil). The explosions were heard as far away as the Zahrani region.

Nine localities shelled

Overnight and into the early hours of Sunday, Israeli artillery struck at least nine villages across the occupied zone, including Mansouri, Zebqine and its valley (Sour); Aita al-Jabal (Bint Jbeil); Mayfadoun, Zawtar Sharqieh, Nabatieh Fawqa, Kfar Tibnit (Nabatieh); and Wadi Slouqi, near Mais al-Jabal (Marjayoun).

Israel launched over 10 Israeli shells on the areas around Mayfadoun, Zawtar Sharqieh, Nabatieh Fawqa, and Kfar Tibnit around midnight. Artillery fire intensified after 2 a.m. in Wadi Slouqi.

Israeli forces also fired machine guns toward Zawtar Sharqieh and Kfar Tibnit, as well as Shebaa (Hasbaya), from the Israeli position known as the "Radar." Gunfire also targeted the area near Doubieh Castle, close to Mais al-Jabal.

In the morning, Israeli forces fired on the area between Wadi Halta and the outskirts of Kfar Shuba (Hasbaya), while residents were harvesting olives.

Israeli forces also dropped illuminating bombs over Arnoun (Nabatieh) and between Shaqra (Bint Jbeil) and Mais al-Jabal overnight and into the early morning.

Additional reporting contributed by Mountasser Abdallah.