Israel steps up air strikes against south Lebanon

Israeli war planes raided Lweizeh and Mleita heights in al-Tuffah district on Tuesday. News reports from south Lebanon said the Israeli jets fired air to surface missiles at targeted areas. The Israeli jets were fired on by Lebanese army and national resistance anti-aircraft missiles.

The raid coincided with Israeli artillery bombardments against the al-Tuffah district and the areas of Abu Rashid, Berkat Jabbour and Ein al-Tineh heights in the western Bekaa.

Meanwhile, Israeli air raids launched on Tuesday morning hit the surroundings of Lweizeh town, destroying several houses and damaging roads and electricity lines, according to news reports from south Lebanon.

Israeli occupation forces' heavy artillery positioned in the eastern sector Tuesday afternoon shelled Ein al-Tineh, Maidoun, al-Jabbour, Abu Rashid mountain, Qelya and Dulfa, Lebanese security sources said. In retaliation, Lebanese resistance forces attacked two enemy positions in Toumat Niha and al-Ahmadie hill.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces and pro-Israeli militias besieged the town of Tebe in south Lebanon, stormed houses and confiscated cellular phones from citizens and newcomers to the area.

The Israeli occupation forces also continued their attacks against areas adjacent to the occupied part of south Lebanon. Security sources said the occupation artillery shelled Sujoud mountain, al-Rayhan woods, al-Rahaa area and al-Rafai mountain in the al-Tuffah district with 155 mm and 120 mm shells.

On the other hand, Lebanese security sources said that Israeli intelligence-men have arrested Ali Ahmad Ghazal, who lives in Arnoon town in south Lebanon, and took him inside the occupied border strip.