Lebanon's Hezbollah, Israeli forces exchange fire in border area

This photo taken on Sept. 8, 2024 shows buildings destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in Khiam, Lebanon. Lebanese military sources told Xinhua that Israeli warplanes and drones carried out five airstrikes targeting villages and towns in the eastern and central sectors of southern Lebanon. One strike on Khirbet Selm resulted in minor injuries to three civilians. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua)

BEIRUT, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- Hezbollah targeted several military sites in northern Israel and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights on Sunday afternoon, prompting the Israeli army to respond with airstrikes that injured three civilians, according to official and military sources in Lebanon.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility in statements, saying their fighters launched a drone attack on al-Zaoura in the occupied Golan Heights, targeting Iron Dome platforms and Israeli military positions in retaliation for attacks on southern villages in Lebanon.

The group also said they conducted a drone strike on the Israeli naval site of Ras al-Naqoura following an alleged attack in the Lebanese village of Froun along the border on Saturday, which reportedly killed three civil defense members.

Lebanese military sources told Xinhua that Israeli warplanes and drones carried out five airstrikes targeting villages and towns in the eastern and central sectors of southern Lebanon. One strike on Khirbet Selm resulted in minor injuries to three civilians.

The sources also reported that the Lebanese army had observed the launch of approximately 30 surface-to-surface missiles and several drones from southern Lebanon toward northern Israel.

Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border have escalated since Oct. 8, 2023, when Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel in solidarity with Hamas' attack the previous day. Israel retaliated with heavy artillery fire toward southern Lebanon.

This photo taken on Sept. 8, 2024 shows a building destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in Khiam, Lebanon. Lebanese military sources told Xinhua that Israeli warplanes and drones carried out five airstrikes targeting villages and towns in the eastern and central sectors of southern Lebanon. One strike on Khirbet Selm resulted in minor injuries to three civilians. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Sept. 8, 2024 shows debris after Israeli airstrikes in Khiam, Lebanon. Lebanese military sources told Xinhua that Israeli warplanes and drones carried out five airstrikes targeting villages and towns in the eastern and central sectors of southern Lebanon. One strike on Khirbet Selm resulted in minor injuries to three civilians. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua)