Israeli strikes Gaza, Syria and Lebanon over weekend

Israel carried out several strikes in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria over the weekend as Tel Aviv continues to pound the Palestinian enclave where at least 11,100 people have been killed since 7 October.

Israel struck Syrian regime positions in Daraa in an apparent retaliation for crossfire targeting the occupied Golan Heights on Friday. Five rockets were launched, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor.

The strike on the Golan Heights - Syrian territory that Israel began occupying in 1967 - had been in response to shelling from Tel Aviv, The New Arab’s Arabic-language site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed cited Syrian state media as saying.

Israel has repeatedly shelled Syrian targets since it launched its war on Gaza on 7 October, hitting targets belonging to he regime and other Iran-backed groups. In October, a strike on Daraa killed eight soldiers and wounded many more.

In the 4th week of escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, both sides have exhibited a notable shift in tactics and targets. Rockets from south Lebanon are penetrating deeper into Israeli territories, and Israel has launched strikes further into Lebanon 👇 pic.twitter.com/y1GaaqMRDC

— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) October 31, 2023

UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen warned last month that Israel’s relentless war on Gaza had already spilled over into Syria, following the number of cross-border fire exchanges.

Neighbouring Lebanon has also been subject to frequent Israeli shelling. Tel Aviv has struck Hezbollah targets frequently in areas on the border between the two countries, but has also targeted and killed a number of civilians.

On Sunday, Lebanese official media said Israel had hit the southern village of Houla with phosphorus shelling.

Israel also reportedly shelled the towns of Merohin, Dahira and Bustan in southern Lebanon, among many others, in response to the firing of an anti-tank missile that reportedly injured several Israeli citizens.

Saturday was no different, as the Israeli army confirmed that it hit several Hezbollah positions in retaliation for cross-fire exchange carried out by the militant group.

Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed at least 90 people - most of them Hezbollah fighters, but some civilians.

Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah and four relatives of journalist Samir Ayoub are among the Lebanese civilians killed by Israel.