Restive calm in Beirut after Israel's 'big surprises' threat
Israeli strikes targeted overnight into Thursday Mayfadoun, al-Naqoura, al-Qantara, Tyre, al-Hosh, Insariyeh, al-Bazourieh, al-Rihan, Tayr Debba, Debaal, the border town of al-Khiam and a bridge in Qasmiyeh in south Lebanon. Artillery shelled Arnoun, al-Ghandourieh, Maroun al-Rass, Bint Jbeil, Ibl al-Seqi and wadi al-Slouqi.
At least four people were killed and ten were wounded in the strikes on the south, the National News Agency said.
In West Bekaa, strikes hit Mashghara and in north Bekaa, six people including children were killed in a strike on Shaath.
In Beirut's southern suburbs, a restive calm prevailed after Israel repeatedly struck central Beirut on Wednesday, killing at least 12 including a director for Hezbollah's Al Manar TV channel, and destroyed two bridges in south Lebanon.
Information Minister Paul Morcos said that targeting "media professionals constitutes a flagrant violation of international law".
Hezbollah condemned what it said was Israel's "assassination" of journalist Mohamad Sherri, describing it as a "deliberate attack".
Air raid sirens rang out late Wednesday across Israel from the north to the south following what Israeli media said was one or more missile launches from Lebanon.
The launch marked the deepest strike by Hezbollah into Israel since the Iran-backed group joined the Middle East war following Israel's killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Defense minister Israel Katz had said earlier on Wednesday there will be "big surprises" and escalation in Lebanon and Iran during the day.
- Panic in the south -
Late Wednesday, the Israeli army renewed strikes on several towns and villages in south Lebanon, according to the NNA, while Hezbollah claimed rocket salvos on a defense company in Haifa and on Nahariya, both in northern Israel.
Israel attacked two bridges across the Litani River, which splits the south of the country.
AFP photos showed a bridge in an agricultural area north of the southern city of Tyre partially destroyed, with fires burning in the surrounding brush.
Israel said Wednesday it would target bridges crossing the Litani, "to prevent the transfer of reinforcements and weapons" to the frontlines, essentially cutting off a large part of the south from the rest of the country.
In a statement issued after the twin bridge attacks, the Israeli defense minister said: "This is a direct action against Hezbollah's use of Lebanon's state infrastructure... and also a clear message to the Lebanese government: the State of Israel will not allow such a reality."
Israel struck at least five gas stations belonging to the Al-Amana fuel company, which it said finances Hezbollah.
This came as Hezbollah announced it had repelled an attempt by "Israeli enemy soldiers to advance" in Khiam, a town about six kilometers from the border that has witnessed fierce clashes in recent days.
Late Tuesday, the Israeli military had issued an evacuation order for most of the city of Tyre as well as swathes of surrounding areas, sending people fleeing northwards, an AFP correspondent said.
In a statement on Wednesday the U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said "last night's violent escalation marks a further worrying deterioration".
"Heavy exchanges of fire, intensified air and ground activity, and increased presence of Israeli forces inside Lebanese territory are deeply concerning developments," it added.
Source: Naharnet, Agence France Presse
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