Israel Continues Scorched Earth Tactics in Southern Lebanon

This picture shows damaged cars and debris at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted Baalbek in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley overnight, with the ancient city's Roman temple in the background on November 7, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. (Photo by Nidal SOLH / AFP)
This picture shows damaged cars and debris at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted Baalbek in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley overnight, with the ancient city's Roman temple in the background on November 7, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. (Photo by Nidal SOLH / AFP)
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Israel Continues Scorched Earth Tactics in Southern Lebanon

This picture shows damaged cars and debris at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted Baalbek in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley overnight, with the ancient city's Roman temple in the background on November 7, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. (Photo by Nidal SOLH / AFP)
This picture shows damaged cars and debris at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted Baalbek in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley overnight, with the ancient city's Roman temple in the background on November 7, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. (Photo by Nidal SOLH / AFP)

The Israeli army is maintaining its scorched earth strategy in southern Lebanon, destroying more border villages as it pushes toward the town of Bint Jbeil.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah has increased its drone and missile attacks, although the number of short-range rockets launched by the group has decreased recently.

Hezbollah had initially targeted Israeli military sites and settlements near the border using short-range rockets like Katyushas, which it is believed to have thousands of.

However, after these areas were evacuated due to Israel’s ground offensive, Hezbollah moved deeper into Lebanon, switching to medium-range missiles that hit deeper into Israel, including cities like Acre, Haifa, and even Tel Aviv.

Hezbollah Targets Naval Base and Airport Near Haifa

Hezbollah has continued its missile and drone strikes against northern Israel, with the daily number of rockets now around 120-150, down from over 300 in August.

On Friday, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for two attacks on an Israeli naval base and a military airport near Haifa, marking the second strike in less than 24 hours. These missile attacks also disrupted a soccer match in Kfar Saba, forcing players to flee when air raid sirens went off.

The group stated it targeted a naval base northwest of Haifa and a military base and airport southeast of the city with precision strikes.

In the afternoon, the Israeli military reported five rockets launched from Lebanon, some of which were intercepted.

One missile hit a home in western Galilee. Sirens were heard in Tel Aviv, Upper Galilee, and Haifa Bay, and drones were reported near Upper Galilee. Later, Hezbollah confirmed an attack on an airbase south of Tel Aviv.

Hezbollah Conserves Missiles, Relies More on Drones

Riad Kahwaji, head of the Middle East and Gulf Center for Military Analysis, said Hezbollah is conserving its missiles to sustain the war effort, particularly if the conflict lasts longer.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that he expects further reductions in missile launches due to the depletion of Hezbollah’s missile stocks and limited ability to resupply them. Hezbollah is now relying more on drones, which are harder to intercept and can fly at lower altitudes, making them more effective.

Israeli Army Destroys Hezbollah Training Facility Near UNIFIL Base

After several Israeli strikes on sites linked to the UN peacekeeping force, the Israeli army said it destroyed a Hezbollah training center near a UNIFIL position in southern Lebanon.

The center was located about 200 meters from the UN base, and Israeli forces seized weapons and documents from the site.

The building was used for training and storing weapons, including rocket launchers aimed at Israeli civilian areas. The Israeli military also found documents detailing Hezbollah’s operations before demolishing the building.

Israel Continues Scorched Earth Tactics in Southern Lebanon

The Israeli military continued its scorched earth strategy on Friday, blowing up homes in three towns near Bint Jbeil.

According to Lebanon’s National News Agency, explosions targeted residential buildings in Yaroun, Aytaroun, and Maroun al-Ras.

The agency also reported an Israeli airstrike on the nearby city of Bint Jbeil, which holds special significance for Hezbollah, as its former leader, Hassan Nasrallah, delivered his “Liberation” speech there in 2000 after Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon.

Israeli forces have been trying to advance in the Bint Jbeil area as part of a ground offensive in southern Lebanon that began on September 30.

Clashes also occurred on the Adaisseh front on Friday. Hezbollah confirmed it targeted Israeli troops at two locations with missile strikes.

In recent weeks, several towns in southern Lebanon have been hit by explosions, with Israel regularly claiming to have destroyed Hezbollah tunnels, infrastructure, and weapon storage sites.

The National News Agency reported that at least seven border villages have been targeted, including the town of Mhaibib, near Mais al-Jabal.



Berri to Asharq Al-Awsat: Resolution 1701 Only Tangible Proposal to End Lebanon Conflict

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and US envoy Amos Hochstein in Beirut. (AFP file)
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and US envoy Amos Hochstein in Beirut. (AFP file)
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Berri to Asharq Al-Awsat: Resolution 1701 Only Tangible Proposal to End Lebanon Conflict

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and US envoy Amos Hochstein in Beirut. (AFP file)
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and US envoy Amos Hochstein in Beirut. (AFP file)

Politicians in Beirut said they have not received any credible information about Washington resuming its mediation efforts towards reaching a ceasefire in Lebanon despite reports to the contrary.

Efforts came to a halt after US envoy Amos Hochstein’s last visit to Beirut three weeks ago.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri dismissed the reports as media fodder, saying nothing official has been received.

Lebanon is awaiting tangible proposals on which it can build its position, he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The only credible proposal on the table is United Nations Security Council resolution 1701, whose articles must be implemented in full by Lebanon and Israel, “not just Lebanon alone,” he stressed.

Resolution 1701 was issued to end the 2006 July war between Hezbollah and Israel and calls for removing all weapons from southern Lebanon and that the only armed presence there be restricted to the army and UN peacekeepers.

Western diplomatic sources in Beirut told Asharq Al-Awsat that Berri opposes one of the most important articles of the proposed solution to end the current conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.

He is opposed to the German and British participation in the proposed mechanism to monitor the implementation of resolution 1701. The other participants are the United States and France.

Other sources said Berri is opposed to the mechanism itself since one is already available and it is embodied in the UN peacekeepers, whom the US and France can join.

The sources revealed that the solution to the conflict has a foreign and internal aspect. The foreign one includes Israel, the US and Russia and seeks guarantees that would prevent Hezbollah from rearming itself. The second covers Lebanese guarantees on the implementation of resolution 1701.

Berri refused to comment on the media reports, but told Asharq Al-Awsat that this was the first time that discussions are being held about guarantees.

He added that “Israel is now in crisis because it has failed to achieve its military objectives, so it has resorted to more killing and destruction undeterred.”

He highlighted the “steadfastness of the UN peacekeepers in the South who have refused to leave their positions despite the repeated Israeli attacks.”