Hezbollah Says Israel Hasn’t Captured Any Villages in Southern Lebanon

Smoke rises from Odeisseh in southern Lebanon, as seen from northern Israel, 17 October 2024. EPA/ATEF SAFADI
Smoke rises from Odeisseh in southern Lebanon, as seen from northern Israel, 17 October 2024. EPA/ATEF SAFADI
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Hezbollah Says Israel Hasn’t Captured Any Villages in Southern Lebanon

Smoke rises from Odeisseh in southern Lebanon, as seen from northern Israel, 17 October 2024. EPA/ATEF SAFADI
Smoke rises from Odeisseh in southern Lebanon, as seen from northern Israel, 17 October 2024. EPA/ATEF SAFADI

A Hezbollah lawmaker said on Thursday the Israeli military had not so far captured any villages in southern Lebanon.

"They thought that by assassinating our leader and committing crimes against our people they would achieve what they want, and some rushed to reap the results, but the resistance has begun a new phase of resisting the aggression," MP Hassan Fadlallah said.

"The choice of the resistance leadership is to continue fighting with all means to prevent the enemy from achieving its goals and force it to stop its aggression," he added.

Fadlallah also told reporters that Hezbollah's leadership was carefully coordinating with Speaker Nabih Berri in efforts to secure a ceasefire in the fighting with Israeli forces.

Hezbollah said Thursday it has destroyed two Israeli tanks near the Lebanese border with "guided missiles", after close combat with Israeli troops staging incursions in the area.

The group targeted two Merkava tanks in Labbouneh near the coastal border town of al-Naqoura, as attacks escalated after Israel intensified bombing of the country last month. The attacks burned the tanks and caused casualties, Hezbollah said.

Hezbollah later targeted a group of soldiers between Kfarkila and Adaisseh.

The group also targeted Thursday Kfar Vradim and Misgav Am in northern Israel.

The Israeli military said it has killed a local Hezbollah commander in a southern Lebanese town near the border.

The military said Thursday that an airstrike on Bint Jbeil killed Hussein Awada, who it said was in charge of firing projectiles into Israel from areas near the town.

Israel bombed several towns in south Lebanon, including Houla, Zawtar, Arnoun, Aita al-Shaab, Anqoun, al-Rihan, Arab Salim, Kounine, Hanine, Ramia, Kfarkila, Kfarshouba, Shebaa and Siddiqine.

The Israeli army also ordered residents of al-Hawsh, al-Abbasiyeh, Tayr Dibba and Bourj el-Shemali in the Tyre district to evacuate and later struck the area.

In the eastern Bekaa valley, Israel's army raided the towns of Tamnnine, Saraaine and Sefri.

Military spokesman Avichay Adraee had ordered residents of the towns to leave, warning that the area would again be targeted by Israeli forces.



US Offers Some Lebanese Nationals Protected Status Amid War

Smoke billows from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the southern Lebanese village of Khiam on October 17, 2024, amid the continuing war between Irsael and Hezbollah. (Photo by AFP)
Smoke billows from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the southern Lebanese village of Khiam on October 17, 2024, amid the continuing war between Irsael and Hezbollah. (Photo by AFP)
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US Offers Some Lebanese Nationals Protected Status Amid War

Smoke billows from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the southern Lebanese village of Khiam on October 17, 2024, amid the continuing war between Irsael and Hezbollah. (Photo by AFP)
Smoke billows from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the southern Lebanese village of Khiam on October 17, 2024, amid the continuing war between Irsael and Hezbollah. (Photo by AFP)

The United States said on Thursday it was authorizing certain Lebanese nationals currently in the country to remain for the next 18 months and apply for work permits, as hostilities flare between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah.

Certain individuals from Lebanon who were already in the US as of Oct. 16 can apply for the so-called Temporary Protected Status, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.

Israel launched its ground and air campaign in Lebanon to dismantle Hezbollah after a year during which the Iran-backed group fired across the border in support of Hamas in Gaza.