At least eight killed in Israel and Hezbollah counterstrikes across Lebanon border

At least seven people were killed on Wednesday (Mar 27) after an Israeli airstrike on a paramedics centre linked to the Lebanon-based Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, reported the Associated Press citing officials.

Meanwhile, one person in northern Israel was killed after the strike prompted Hezbollah to fire dozens of rockets at the Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona.

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The Israeli strike on the Lebanese village of Hebbariye came a day after the airstrikes and rocket attacks between Israel’s military and Hezbollah along the Lebanon-Israel border.

The exchange of fire took place after a brief lull in fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group along the border, raising concerns about further escalation along the frontier that has been active for the past five months amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

Both Israel and Lebanon have said that they do not want an all-out war and are open to diplomatic process but the number of strikes has increased this week.

What we know about the strikes and rocket attacks

Israeli emergency services, on Wednesday, said that the rocket attack by Hezbollah killed a factory worker in Kiryat Shmona and another person was lightly injured.

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The paramedics and the Magen David Adom (MDA) said that a 25-year-old man was pulled from the wreckage of the factory. He had sustained severe wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The rocket attack on Israel was reportedly in retaliation for the Israeli strike on Hebbariyeh, which news agencies citing sources said killed at least seven people.

The airstrike after midnight on Tuesday (Mar 26) hit an office of the Islamic Emergency and Relief Corps, said the Lebanese Ambulance Association.

The Lebanese paramedics association released the names of seven volunteers who were killed in the strike and called it a “flagrant violation of humanitarian work,” reported AP.

It was reportedly one of the deadliest single attacks since violence erupted along the border. Since the beginning of the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah has also launched attacks against Israel.

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Hebbariye resident Ali Noureddine told the AP that those killed were pulled out from the rubble before sunrise on Wednesday.

Hezbollah, earlier on Wednesday, condemned the strikes and hours later retaliated by firing dozens of rockets Wednesday morning on Kiryat Shmona and a military base there.

According to the Israeli military, around 30 rockets were launched from Lebanon toward northern Israel.

Israeli strikes on Tuesday near two towns in northeast Lebanon killed three Hezbollah militants, said the militant group. Israel has since confirmed the strikes.

(With inputs from agencies)