Both sides expand scope of their targets BEIRUT: Hostilities between Hezbollah and the Israeli military continued on Tuesday, with the two sides expanding the scope of their targets. Hezbollah is reported to have carried out an attack on an Israeli police building in the Kiryat Shmona settlement. The head of the local authority there said: “Some rockets fell without the sirens sounding.” He urged residents who have no work to leave the city. The official said that 3,000 of about 24,000 civilians remained in the settlement. Hezbollah said its members “took control of an Israeli Skylark drone and it was in good technical condition.” It said its attacks targeted “a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the Hunin Fortress with missiles,” as well as “espionage equipment at the Hadab Yarin site.” Later, Hezbollah said it targeted “a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the Mitat barracks with appropriate weapons and directly hit it, leading to its members being killed or wounded.” According to Israeli media reports, the Margaliot settlement in the Galilee Finger was targeted by “a barrage of at least six missiles launched from Lebanon … (but) the sirens were not activated and the attack resulted in damage to the area.” The Israeli attacks targeted homes and a commercial center in the town of Houla. A security officer at the Houla police station sustained minor injuries. The raids also caused the road between Mays Al-Jabal and Houla to be cut off. Israeli warplanes launched two raids on Marwahin and the outskirts of Aita Al-Shaab and Ramya, while artillery bombarded the outskirts of Al-Jibbayn and Yarine. Israeli drones and airstrikes claimed the lives of five Hezbollah members in Maroun Al-Ras and Talloussa, Marjeyoun district, on Monday night. Since the beginning of hostilities 130 days ago, Israeli strikes have destroyed about 300 housing units close to the southern border. Thousands of homes in other areas, as well as health, commercial and educational institutions have also been demolished. A security source said the Israeli army “uses the most destructive types of weapons that are banned internationally.” Such weapons “cause material damage to targeted areas, leaving a type of black ash that causes pollution, skin diseases and shortness of breath.” The Lebanese Army and UN Interim Force in Lebanon have carried out joint patrols south of the Litani River. “No change has been made to the deployment (of the forces) and their operational activity,” UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said. According to media reports published in Beirut, the Israeli army expanded the scope of its operations in southern Lebanon to reach Nabatieh at the north of the Litani line, and the UNIFIL reported the matter to the commander of the Lebanese Army, General Joseph Aoun. “I am not aware of any specific related conversation between the Lebanese Armed Forces and the UNIFIL. We often meet with our strategic partners in the Lebanese Armed Forces to tackle many peace and security-related issues along the Blue Line and these discussions are confidential,” Tenenti said after reviewing the reports. “The UNIFIL mission spared no effort to de-escalate tensions and prevent the serious misunderstanding between both parties (Lebanese and Israeli military). We resume our daily activities all along the Blue Line to ensure the de-escalation of the existing tensions,” he said.