Hezbollah announced that it had attacked five Israeli positions off the southern border of Lebanon, in the Kfar Shuba hills and the occupied Shebaa Farms. Israel responded with a number of raids on towns in southern Lebanon. While the caretaker Prime Minister of Lebanon, Najib Mikati, said that the region was facing what he described as anxious opportunities for diplomacy to prevent war, the US presidential envoy, Amos Hochstein, considered that a diplomatic solution had become urgent.

Hezbollah said that its fighters targeted a gathering of soldiers in the Shtula forest with missiles, and bombed the Baghdadi and Ramtha sites and the espionage equipment in the Matla site, and also targeted the Zabadin barracks, confirming that casualties were achieved in its attacks.

Earlier, the Lebanese Hezbollah announced via Telegram that it had targeted the spy equipment at the Maskaf Aam site, indicating that it had been directly hit. The party stated that it had attacked a gathering of Israeli occupation soldiers near the Meitat barracks, and also targeted a deployment of soldiers around the Samaka site in the Kfar Shouba hills, as well as the Ruwaysat al-Alam site in the same area. Hezbollah added that it had targeted the Mount Neria base, which is occupied by forces from the Israeli Golani Brigade, using Katyusha rockets.

This comes after Hezbollah fired more than 40 rockets towards northern Israel, where the party confirmed targeting several Israeli military sites, including "Jabal al-Deir" and the "Jabal Neria" base, with Katyusha rockets.

The Israeli Broadcasting Authority monitored the launch of an anti-tank missile from Lebanon on the town of Matula, without recording any injuries or damage.

On the other hand, the Broadcasting Authority indicated that about 25 shells were detected on Mount Meron and its surroundings in the Upper Galilee in open areas without causing any injuries during the hours of last night.

Earlier on Tuesday evening, the Authority reported that about 15 shells fell in the Upper Galilee region, after sirens were heard in Dishon and Malkiya, without any human losses being recorded.

Israeli raids

For his part, Al Jazeera's correspondent reported that an Israeli drone raid occurred on the outskirts of the town of Abbasiyeh in the Tyre district in southern Lebanon.

The Lebanese Ministry of Health said that 10 people were injured, including 3 seriously, in the occupation's bombing of the town of Abbasiya in southern Lebanon.

Israeli warplanes also launched raids on the town of Kfar Kila, using three MK 84 concussion bombs, also known as “hammers” due to the severe damage they cause when they explode.

An Israeli fighter jet launched a raid on the town of Aita al-Shaab, and Israeli artillery shelled the surroundings of the towns of Rashaya al-Fakhar and Houla. Last night, Israeli shelling also targeted the forested triangle between Rshaf, al-Tayri and Hadatha.

The Lebanese National News Agency reported that Israeli aircraft penetrated the airspace of Sidon at low altitude, and dropped thermal balloons and flares over the villages of Tyre and Bint Jbeil districts. An interceptor missile also exploded over the sea off the city of Sidon.

These developments come at a time when the Lebanese-Israeli border is witnessing a state of growing concern about the possibility of the conflict expanding, in light of Tel Aviv's preparations for possible reactions from Iran and Hezbollah after the assassination of prominent leaders in Hamas and Hezbollah.

Mikati's statements

For his part, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati confirmed - today, Wednesday - that the region is facing what he described as anxious opportunities for diplomacy, and he considered that "Israeli intransigence threatens efforts to stop the war."

Mikati pointed out during a speech he delivered at the cabinet session that the ongoing Israeli war in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip for more than 10 months has led to "a heavy price in the lives of our youth and our people," stressing Lebanon's right to liberate its land and preserve its sovereignty.

Mikati strongly condemned the massacre of the Tabeen School committed by Israel, which resulted in the martyrdom of more than 100 Palestinians, and called on the international community to take action to stop this "organized criminal genocide."

He also stressed that Lebanon is committed to the contents of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, and to implementing all of its provisions and clauses by all as an entry point to any solution.

For his part, the US presidential envoy to Lebanon, Amos Hochstein, confirmed today, Wednesday, that the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel has been prolonged, stressing the importance of reaching quick diplomatic solutions.

This came in a statement he made after meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, where Hochstein expressed his concern about the continued tension on the Lebanese-Israeli border, stressing the need to calm the situation.

Hochstein indicated that reaching a diplomatic solution has become urgent, explaining that the current situation requires diplomatic intervention to prevent the conflict from escalating. The US envoy had arrived in Beirut earlier today, as part of a visit aimed at meeting Lebanese officials and discussing ways to calm the situation on the border.

Number of civilian deaths

Meanwhile, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs expressed deep concern over the rising number of civilian deaths and increasing displacement as a result of the escalation of hostilities on the border between Lebanon and Israel.

In an official statement, the office reported that the number of civilian deaths since last October has increased by 20% to 120, most of whom are women and children. Civilian infrastructure has also been repeatedly targeted, with more than 12 water stations damaged, affecting the availability of safe drinking water for more than 200,000 people.

The office confirmed that it and its partners are continuing to intensify relief efforts, including the delivery of 32 tons of emergency surgical equipment and medicines from the World Health Organization.

He also pointed out that displacement continues on both sides of the Blue Line, with displacement in Lebanon increasing by 4% since July 23, bringing the total number of displaced people since October to 102,000.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs called on all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, stressing the need to protect civilians and infrastructure in light of the difficult circumstances experienced by the Lebanese people.

This comes at a time when the Lebanese Ministry of Health announced the recording of 547 deaths and 2,312 injuries as a result of the Israeli war.

The border areas in southern Lebanon have witnessed an exchange of fire between the Israeli army and Hezbollah elements, since the start of the Israeli aggression on Gaza in October 2023.