Israel expands air campaign into Lebanon

Israeli warplanes on October 12 attacked a market in the southern Lebanese city of Nabatiyeh and a church near the Lebanon-Israel border.

In addition, Israel carried out airstrikes on a Shi'ite Muslim village in the mountains and another airstrike in northern Lebanon.

The Lebanese Health Ministry said the airstrikes killed at least 15 people.

Israel also announced that its 36th Division continued to “carry out targeted and limited operations” in southern Lebanon against the Hezbollah movement.

Israeli fighter jets struck multiple anti-tank missile launchers, weapons depots and other Hezbollah targets.

The Israeli military has ordered residents of 21 villages in Lebanon to evacuate to areas north of the Awali River that runs through southern Lebanon as it steps up attacks in the area.

Additionally, on October 13, the Israeli military said it had discovered an underground tunnel in southern Lebanon during a limited, targeted raid based on accurate intelligence.

The army surrounded the building, searched inside the tunnels and discovered an underground complex and captured a Hezbollah fighter hiding with weapons and equipment.

In a related development, the Israeli Defense Ministry said its head, Yoav Gallant, had assured his US counterpart Lloyd Austin that Israeli forces would continue to take measures to avoid harming the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

In a phone call with Mr. Gallant on October 12, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also expressed deep concern about Israeli forces attacking UN peacekeeping positions in Lebanon, emphasizing the need to ensure the safety and security of UNIFIL.

On this issue, on October 13, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the UN to evacuate UNIFIL peacekeeping forces from war zones in Lebanon.