BEIRUT, Nov 4 – Lebanon’s Hezbollah claimed responsibility for simultaneous attacks on Israeli positions at the Lebanese border on Saturday, escalating tensions in a series of cross-border clashes. South Lebanon residents reported some of the most intense Israeli strikes yet during weeks of fighting. The Israeli army responded with airstrikes, artillery, and tank shelling.

According to a Lebanese source familiar with the attacks, Hezbollah fired a powerful missile that had not been used before in the conflict. The missile hit an Israeli position across the border from the villages of Ayta al-Shaab and Rmeich. This exchange of fire between Hezbollah and Israeli forces began when Hamas, a Palestinian ally of Hezbollah, declared war on Israel on Oct. 7.

These border clashes mark the most significant fighting since the 2006 war, but have mostly been contained to the border area. In his first speech since the Hamas-Israel conflict started, Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah stated that the situation on the Lebanese front would depend on events in Gaza as well as Israeli actions towards Lebanon. He emphasized that the attacks at the border so far were not the extent of Hezbollah’s actions.

In Lebanon, witnesses and security sources reported some of the most intense Israeli strikes to date. Video footage showed two columns of smoke rising over hills near the town of Khiyam, which had been hit by an Israeli airstrike. Fouad Khreis, a resident of Khiyam, stated that the shelling had intensified, with both Hezbollah and Israeli forces exchanging fire. Four shells fell on the outskirts of Khiyam, but there were no injuries.

The Israeli army targeted terrorist infrastructure, rocket caches, and Hezbollah compounds in their strikes. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously warned Hezbollah against opening a second war front, emphasizing that it would result in devastating Israeli counter-strikes. Israel has repeatedly stated that it has no desire for a conflict on its northern frontier.

The clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces have resulted in nearly 60 Hezbollah fighters killed so far. The situation remains tense as both sides continue to exchange fire and escalate tensions at the Lebanese border.