Israeli military reported “targeting a Hezbollah cell in the town of Blida, resulting in the death of three members” Israel says it thwarted Hezbollah operation to assassinate high ranking security official BEIRUT: Three people were killed and two others injured during an Israeli raid on two houses in the border town of Blida, Lebanon, on Tuesday. Rescue workers were seen searching through debris in footage shared by activists on social media. The Israeli military reported “targeting a Hezbollah cell in the town of Blida, resulting in the death of three members.” The intensity of violent hostilities between Hezbollah and the Israeli army escalated after reports from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office indicating that the security Cabinet approved a decision to expand the war in Lebanon, “with the aim of allowing Israeli settlers in the north to return to their homes.” This escalation came a day after Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant met with US presidential envoy Amos Hochstein, who delivered a message from the US warning of the “dangers of escalating tensions in Lebanon and the necessity of containing the conflict to avoid a full-scale war.” But Gallant told Hochstein that “the only viable path to ensure the return of the residents of the north is through a military operation against Hezbollah.” Netanyahu’s office said he made it clear to Hochstein during their meeting “firmly and decisively that our residents cannot be returned without a fundamental change in the security situation in the north, and Israel appreciates and respects the support of the United States, but will do what is necessary to maintain its security and facilitate the safe return of residents of the north to their homes.” This escalation coincided with the Israeli military’s announcement regarding what it termed the "foiling of a Hezbollah attempt to assassinate a high ranking security figure using an explosive device,” but it did not specify the location or date of the incident. The announcement said: “We warned the targeted individual before the explosion. The Shin Bet uncovered the explosive device linked to a remote activation mechanism, which included a camera and a mobile phone intended for activation by Hezbollah from Lebanon.” It added: “Security assessments indicate that certain elements within Hezbollah were also involved in the preparations related to the Tel Aviv operation in September 2023, and that Hezbollah continues to escalate tensions in the region, leading it toward perilous situations.” Hezbollah opened the southern front on Oct. 8, 2023, to support “the resistance in the Gaza Strip against the Israeli army.” Since then, the militant group has had daily confrontations on the borders with the Israeli army, which several times breached the rules of engagement. Hostilities reached areas deep inside Lebanon and northern Israel, leading to the death of more than 650 people on the Lebanese side, the majority of whom were Hezbollah cadres and members, in addition to civilians, paramedics and media personalities. More than 110,000 people fled border villages to other towns deep inside Lebanon, as Israeli raids and bombings destroyed thousands of houses and infrastructure in the border region. Media reports in Beirut quoted a source close to Hezbollah on Tuesday, saying that “any Israeli military land operation in southern Lebanon will not be a mere promenade and will cost heavily.” The source added: “Israelis know that there are many obstacles facing any land operation. Nevertheless, Hezbollah is ready for any scenario and will deal with any bad option.” The ball is in Israel’s court, the source said, “as it continues its violations of the Lebanese airspace and its occupation of the Kfarchouba Hills and the Shebaa Farms.” Hezbollah increased the intensity of its operations against Israeli military outposts in the past 24 hours, on Tuesday targeting “Israeli soldiers in the Karantina Hill,” according to its official statements. On Monday night and Tuesday morning it also targeted “a gathering of soldiers in the Al-Abad site with a guided missile,” in addition to “buildings used by the enemy’s soldiers in the Manara settlement.” The militant group also hit “several Israeli vehicles in the Ramiyah outpost with a guided missile.” At the time a support force entered the area, it was targeted by Hezbollah “with artillery missiles, causing confirmed hits.” Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency UNRWA, said: “We should always be ready for the worst, although we are hopeful that the worst won’t happen. “The situation is really worrying.” Lazzarini visited Nabih Berri, speaker in Lebanon’s Parliament, Prime Minster Najib Mikati, and Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib and discussed the issues confronting UNRWA, which “faces financial challenges.” He said there are calls for UNRWA’s dismantlement, and that pressure is being exerted by the Israeli Knesset in this direction. “Not a day goes by without UNRWA facilities and employees being targeted.”