Israeli strike reported to have killed two people in southern Lebanon

CAIRO: An Israeli air strike on the outskirts of Aitaroun in southern Lebanon killed two people, Lebanese state news agency NNA reported on Saturday.

Israel’s IDF said in a statement that its soldiers had identified a Hezbollah militant in the area of Aitaroun and shortly afterwards an Israeli aircraft had struck the individual.

Israeli forces launched two missiles targeting a cafe at a petrol station which resulted in major damage to the shop, the station and the surrounding area, the NNA report said.

The conflict between Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Israel, which has been fought in parallel to the Gaza war, has intensified in recent days, adding to concerns that an even wider confrontation could break out between the heavily armed adversaries.

The IDF said on Saturday that jets had also struck infrastructure in the area of Khiam after tanks had earlier fired at a Hezbollah military structure in the Kfarkela area.

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Hezbollah, a Hamas ally, says its attacks aim to support Palestinians under Israeli bombardment in Gaza.

The fighting – the worst hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel since they fought a war in 2006 – has forced tens of thousands of people to flee homes on both sides of the border.