Field escalation in southern Lebanon: Intense raids, targeting of a car, and rockets hitting Kiryat Shmona

The Israeli army announced this Saturday morning that it had detected a series of rocket launches from within Lebanese territory towards areas in the north, with military sources confirming that one of these rockets directly hit the settlement of Kiryat Shmona. The military statement clarified that air defense systems managed to intercept most of the projectiles, but the rocket that evaded interception caused significant material damage at the impact site without causing any human casualties.

In a related context, Hebrew media reports stated that Hezbollah carried out a large-scale rocket attack during the night hours, including launching more than ten rockets towards the Upper Galilee. Field documentation circulated on social media platforms showed the damage caused by the explosion in Kiryat Shmona, reflecting the continued field tension along the northern border.

On the Lebanese side, Israeli warplanes intensified their aerial raids targeting several towns and villages in the south, where a drone carried out an attack targeting a civilian car on the Haboush-Zahrani highway. The shelling also targeted the vicinity of the Nabatieh Governmental Hospital, injuring three civilians with varying degrees of injuries, a step that increases pressure on vital facilities in the region.

Lebanon's Ministry of Health announced a heavy toll as a result of the recent Israeli aggressions, with 11 people martyred, including a paramedic, and eight others injured. These deadly raids focused on the towns of Abbasiyah, Maaroub, and Tyre-Daba, amidst ongoing search and rescue operations under the rubble in the targeted areas.

Jezzine witnessed continuous raids from midnight until the early hours of dawn, intensely targeting the towns of Rihan, Sijid, and Qatrani. Local sources reported that occupation forces carried out a large-scale demolition operation in the Arayd Marjayoun area at 6 AM, followed by a series of violent raids targeting the towns of Debbine, Blat, Jamayjma, Kfartabnit, and Mayfadoun.

Politically, media sources revealed a tense atmosphere that prevailed in the military meetings held in the American capital, Washington, between delegations from the Lebanese and Israeli armies. Reports indicated that the negotiations faced significant obstacles after the Israeli side categorically rejected demands for withdrawal from the positions it had advanced into in southern Lebanon.

Israel maintains its refusal to withdraw, justifying it by the continued field threats and Hezbollah's military capabilities that pose a danger to its national security. This rigid stance led to increased tension in the meeting rooms, placing international mediation efforts before complex challenges amidst the escalating military escalation on the ground.

As part of diplomatic efforts, the United States continues its role as a key mediator to try to formulate a new proposal aimed at a permanent ceasefire. The American proposal includes controversial clauses, most notably mechanisms for disarming Hezbollah in border areas, which faces widespread Lebanese rejection as it affects national sovereignty.

These field and political developments paint a complex picture in southern Lebanon, where intense military operations intertwine with stalled diplomatic paths. With the continued fall of civilian casualties and the expansion of shelling, anticipation remains the master of the situation regarding what American moves will lead to in the coming days to try to contain the situation and prevent a slide towards a comprehensive confrontation.

Israel refuses to withdraw from southern Lebanon as long as it faces field threats from Hezbollah.