While the Israeli army continues its operations in the Gaza Strip against Hamas forces, the western sector of the Lebanese-Israeli border suddenly burst into flames on Friday, October 13, in the area of operation of the United Nations force. deployed in Lebanon. During a bombing in southern Lebanon, the target of Israeli shells, a Lebanese images journalist from the Reuters Agency was killed and at least five other of his colleagues were injured.
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Lebanese security sources said violent clashes broke out after a “ infiltration attempt » in Israel of unidentified fighters, from Lebanon. This in a region which has experienced several incidents the last days.
Heavy fire from automatic weapons was heard by journalists and residents on the spot, then Israeli artillery violently shelled the area. This was flown over by helicopters and drones, reports our correspondent in Beirut, Paul Kahlifeh.
An unoccupied Lebanese army observation post was hit head-on by a rocket, then dozens of shells fell around five localities in South Lebanon.
Reuters journalist killed, four others injured
Among these, rockets fell in the border village of Alma el-Chaab, in an area where there was a group of journalists from at least three different media, according to an AFP journalist on site.
While covering the events, a Reuters journalist was killed, the British agency said in a statement on Friday. “ We are deeply saddened to learn that our videographer Issam Abdallah was killedsaid the press release. Issam was part of a Reuters team in southern Lebanon providing a live video feed “, specifies the press release, adding that Reuters is urgently seeking further information from authorities in the region.
Several other journalists who were part of the same team were injured, including two from the AFP, as well as two others working for al-Jazeera, according to the Qatari channel.
Sudden conflagration, while operations were limited until now
The border region has been the scene of regular clashes for almost a week, but operations remained limited for the momentas well as Israeli bombings on the outskirts of border villages in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah announced early in the evening that it had attacked four “ Israeli positions ” in ” reprisals » to bombings against Lebanese regions. These developments come a few hours after a statement from the deputy secretary-general of Hezbollah, direct ally of Palestinian Hamas, during a popular rally in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza. Sheikh Naïm Qassem declared that Hezbollah is “ fully prepared to intervene against Israel in due time “.
He added that “ behind-the-scenes contacts with the party, directly and indirectly, by major powers, Arab countries and UN envoys “, asking him not to intervene in the battle, will not affect his decision.
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(With AFP)