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.



Russia Denies its Hmeimim Base in Syria Is Being Used to Supply Hezbollah with Weapons from Iran

A Russian Sukhoi Su-35 bomber lands at the Russian Hmeimim military base in Latakia province, northwest Syria, on May 4, 2016. (AFP via Getty Images)
A Russian Sukhoi Su-35 bomber lands at the Russian Hmeimim military base in Latakia province, northwest Syria, on May 4, 2016. (AFP via Getty Images)
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Russia Denies its Hmeimim Base in Syria Is Being Used to Supply Hezbollah with Weapons from Iran

A Russian Sukhoi Su-35 bomber lands at the Russian Hmeimim military base in Latakia province, northwest Syria, on May 4, 2016. (AFP via Getty Images)
A Russian Sukhoi Su-35 bomber lands at the Russian Hmeimim military base in Latakia province, northwest Syria, on May 4, 2016. (AFP via Getty Images)

Russia has asked Israel to avoid launching aerial strikes as part of its war against Lebanon’s Hezbollah near one of Moscow’s bases in Syria, a top official said Wednesday.

Syrian state media in mid-October claimed that Israel had struck the port city of Latakia, a stronghold of President Bashar Assad, who is supported by Russia and in turn backs Hezbollah.

Latakia, and in particular its airport, is close to the town of Hmeimim that hosts a Russian air base.

“Israel actually carried out an air strike in the immediate vicinity of Hmeimim,” Alexander Lavrentiev, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy in the Near East, told the RIA Novosti press agency.

“Our military has of course notified Israeli authorities that such acts that put Russian military lives in danger over there are unacceptable,” he added.

“That is why we hope that this incident in October will not be repeated.”

Israel has carried out intensive bombing of Syria but rarely targets Latakia, to the northwest of Damascus.

Israel accuses Hezbollah of transporting weapons through Syria.

The two warring parties have been in open conflict since September after Israel’s year-long Gaza war with Hamas — a Hezbollah ally — escalated to a new front.

Lavrentiev said that Russia’s air base was not being used to supply Hezbollah with weapons.

Israel stepped up strikes on Syria at the same time as targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Since civil war broke out in Syria in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of air strikes on Syrian government forces and groups supported by its arch-foe Iran, notably Hezbollah fighters that have been deployed to assist Assad’s regime.

Israel rarely comments on its strikes but has said it will not allow Iran to extend its presence to Syria.