BEIRUT, April 18 (Xinhua) -- A fighter of the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah was killed and two civilians were wounded on Thursday afternoon in Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon's southern village of Blida, according to Lebanese military sources.
The sources, who spoke anonymously, said Israeli warplanes and drones carried out a series of airstrikes on four towns and villages in the border region of southern Lebanon, destroying three houses and damaging 11 others.
The sources added that Israeli drones had been flying in the airspace of the Nabatieh governorate in southern Lebanon for hours since Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah said it had attacked several Israeli sites, without specifying the casualties.
Andrea Tenenti, spokesperson for the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL), said on Thursday that peacekeepers, including UNIFIL military personnel and civilian employees, remained in their positions and were fulfilling their duties.
"UNIFIL's work continues, including patrols, supply convoys, and soldier replacements inside and outside Lebanon," he said.
"The safety and security of employees and their families is our priority," Tenenti said.
Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border escalated on Oct. 8, 2023, following a barrage of rockets launched by Hezbollah toward Israel in solidarity with Hamas' attack on Israel the day before. Israel then retaliated by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon. ■
