Tensions on the border between Israel and Lebanon escalated further Tuesday, with an anti-tank missile fired by Hezbollah injuring nine Israeli soldiers and impacting civilians on both sides.
The incident occurred as Israeli troops attempted to rescue a civilian injured by a separate Hezbollah missile attack that struck a Greek Orthodox church in the abandoned Palestinian village of Iqrit. One soldier sustained serious injuries in the subsequent strike, while the rescued civilian’s condition remains unclear.
The Israeli military condemned Hezbollah’s actions, accusing the Iran-backed group of “constant firing at civilian and religious sites.”
Hezbollah, in turn, claims its attacks support Hamas in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
Since the start of hostilities in October, over 150 individuals have been killed in Lebanon, including Hezbollah fighters and civilians.
On the Israeli side, at least four civilians and nine soldiers have lost their lives. Religious sites, including churches, have been caught in the crossfire, raising concerns about the potential for wider escalation.