BEIRUT: Lebanon will file a complaint with the UN Security Council to protest about a series of Israeli attacks that have led to civilian casualties in residential areas, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday.
“The series of Israeli attacks considered the most violent on March 11 and 12 targeted civilians in residential areas around the city of Baalbek and nearby towns, which led to casualties and injuries among civilians,” a ministry statement said.
Abdullah Bou Habib, Lebanon’s caretaker foreign minister, said: “The concerning thing is that this escalation occurred in areas far from the southern Lebanese borders, indicating Israel’s desire to expand the conflict and drag the entire region into a war that may start with such aggressive acts and turn into a regional war sought by the Israeli government as a lifeline to escape its internal predicament.”
The ministry called on “the international community to pressure Israel to stop its escalating attacks.” It also demanded that members of the Security Council “condemn Israeli attacks against Lebanon and fully implement Resolution 1701 (2006) for permanent stability and peace along Lebanon’s southern borders.”
On Wednesday, Israel violated conflict rules for the third consecutive day, in place since Oct. 8, by conducting hostile operations in the area from south of the Litani River to the north.
This is part of Israel’s new approach to pursue and assassinate Hezbollah and Hamas leaders and members in Lebanon through targeted drone strikes.
In the morning, an Israeli missile fired from a drone targeted a car near the northern entrance of the city of Tyre, close to the Rashidiya Palestinian refugee camp.
It killed Hadi Mustafa, the logistics support officer of Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas in Lebanon, and a Syrian man on a motorcycle near Mustafa’s car.
Two other individuals were also wounded.
Hamas said in a statement that Mustafa’s mission was to “coordinate with the resistance forces in Lebanon.”
This is the fourth time that Israel has targeted Hamas personnel in Lebanon.
It is also the first time that the entrance of the city of Tyre, where thousands of displaced people from the southern border area have sought refuge, was targeted. The city is a meeting point for UNIFIL soldiers.
The Israeli army confirmed that it killed “Hamas official Hadi Ali Mustafa by bombing a car that was transporting him in Lebanon.”
A security source told Arab News: “The Israeli escalation that moved from southern Lebanon to Baalbek and the surrounding towns, then targeting the entrance to the city of Tyre, aims to break the equations to pursue members of Hezbollah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad wherever they are.”
Israeli warplanes flew at a low altitude for the first time on Tuesday night over cities and villages in the south, breaking the sound barrier and causing a loud noise that terrified residents and resulted in broken windows in homes.
Israeli media reported that several rockets were launched from Lebanon toward the Golan Heights. Hezbollah has not claimed responsibility for the rockets.
The Israeli army continued its airstrikes and artillery fire on Lebanese border areas from Marjayoun Plain to the Labbouneh area in Naqoura, often striking houses.
The bombardment included the outskirts of Alama Al-Shaab, Al-Qantara, Kafraya, Al-Dahyra, Yarin and Yater, where a residential house was targeted and several people were slightly injured.
