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Israeli fighter jet in the sky over Lebanon

Photo: Jalaa Marey / AFP

Gradual escalation in the Middle East: The Israeli army said it shelled positions belonging to the Shiite militia Hezbollah in southern Lebanon on Thursday.

The army said artillery and fighter jets had fired on the places from which Israel had previously been shelled.

In the Israeli border area, from which most civilians have been evacuated for months, the towns of Rosh Hanikra and Jaara in the west as well as targets in the Upper Galilee further east were attacked from the neighboring country to the north.

Israeli warplanes bombed targets in the area of ​​the Lebanese towns of Aitarun and Aita Ash Shaab.

The evening before, a Hezbollah military facility near Matmura and an observation post near Jebbayn had been attacked from the air.

According to its own statements, Hezbollah also shelled targets in Israel near the towns of Liman and Avdon.

There was one death in Lebanon.

No casualties were reported from Israel.

Since the Gaza war broke out, there has been daily shelling on the border between Lebanon and Israel.

There have long been concerns that the war could spread to Lebanon.

Tens of thousands of civilians have already had to leave their homes on both sides of the border.

According to a report in the Israeli newspaper “Times of Israel,” seven civilians and ten soldiers died on the Israeli side.

At least 30 civilians and 266 Hezbollah members were killed in Lebanon, including some in Syria.

According to Lebanese information on Wednesday, indirect talks for a diplomatic solution between Israel and Hezbollah will take place during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins in a few days.

Israel wants to use diplomatic pressure to ensure that the Hezbollah militia retreats behind the Litani River, 30 kilometers from the border - as stipulated in UN Resolution 1701 from 2006.

If necessary, Israel is ready for a major military operation, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant recently warned.

However, Hezbollah is considered more powerful than Hamas.

dop/dpa