Hezbollah with revenge attacks on Israel

An Israeli air strike killed a woman and a girl south of Lebanon on 21 February, prompting the Lebanese group Hezbollah to retaliate with missile attacks.

Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, has almost on a daily basis exchanged fire with Israel along the border since the war between Israel and Hamas began -- the Palestinian group declared a terrorist organisation by the United States and the European Union -- on 7 October.

Lebanese state media said a woman was killed and her daughter was seriously injured during a “attack on the enemy” in the village of Majdal Zun. Then, health officials confirmed that the girl was also killed.

Rescue teams said several injured persons were also taken to the hospital.

In the evening, Hezbollah said it has fired several rockets in the village of Matzuva across the border in Israel “in response to Israeli attacks on villages and civilian homes”, including Majdal Zun.

Hezbollah also claimed responsibility for 11 more operations against Israeli Army positions on the border.

The border fire exchange since October has left at least 271 people killed on the Lebanese side -- mostly Hezbollah fighters -- but also 42 civilians, according to data gathered by the AFP agency.

On the Israeli side, 10 soldiers and six civilians were killed, according to the Israeli army.

Last week, Hezbollah's chief, Hasan Nasrallah, vowed that Israel “would pay with blood”, as 10 civilians, including seven members of one family, were killed in Lebanon. It was the deadliest attack in one day. Five Hezbollah warriors were also killed in that attack. / REL