Israeli strikes and shelling hit southern Lebanon as an Israeli force advances towards Habbariyeh, Lebanese state media says

Israeli warplanes and artillery struck several areas of southern Lebanon on Thursday 22 October, while an Israeli military force advanced towards the outskirts of Habbariyeh in the Arqoub area, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported, according to Anadolu Agency.

The NNA said warplanes struck the town of Kfar Tebnit in the Nabatieh district, and artillery hit Mansouri and an area south of Tyre, as well as Wadi Zibqin and, overnight, the area between Beit Yahoun and Baraachit in the Bint Jbeil district. It said a force of about 20 soldiers and four Merkava tanks moved towards the Nabaa al-Khoukh area on the outskirts of Habbariyeh in the Hasbaya district, opening machine-gun fire and carrying out searches, after six artillery shells hit the town’s outskirts. An Israeli drone dropped a stun grenade near a fishing boat off Al-Amiriya, with no reported casualties. The reports did not include comment from the Israeli military.

The strikes came as military technical meetings between Lebanon and Israel, sponsored by the United States, continued in Florida after beginning on Tuesday, Anadolu reported. A US-sponsored framework agreement reached on 26 June provides for a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory in exchange for the deployment of the Lebanese army and the disarmament of armed groups; Anadolu said it has so far been applied in three towns in the Nabatieh district.

Background: Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah have fought repeatedly, most recently in a conflict that resumed on 2 March. Israel says its forces will remain until Hezbollah is disarmed. See also: Katz says Israeli army will stay in Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed.