Israeli airstrikes kill at least 13 across Lebanon

Israeli airstrikes pounded south Beirut and border crossings to Syria, killing at least 13 people across Lebanon as ground fighting picked up intensity.

Jets struck twice at a busy bridge at the Abboudiyeh border crossing into Syria, killing at least 12 people and wounding 18 others, hospital and security officials said.

The checkpoint is some 10 miles inland from the Mediterranean coast, on Lebanon’s northern border.

Israel also struck an area close to the Lebanese border crossing at Masnaa in the Bekaa Valley, about 30 miles south-east of Beirut, but there were no reports of casualties.

Masnaa is the main border crossing with Syria, and has been closed after four previous strikes. It was the main escape route for hundreds of foreigners and displaced Lebanese who fled the country over land.

Only one other official border crossing, at the northern coastal town of Arida, is open.

Israeli warplanes also struck three vehicles near the eastern city of Baalbek, killing at least one person and wounding two others, security officials said. Witnesses said the vehicles were directly hit and caught fire. It was unclear whether they were cars or pick-up trucks – a frequent target of Israeli raids.

At least 20 explosions rang out across the Lebanese capital as thick black smoke rose from the southern suburbs. There were no immediate reports on casualties, or what was hit. Hezbollah said it unleashed “a new barrage of rockets on Haifa” in response.

In an other statement, Hezbollah said its fighters killed or wounded about 15 Israeli soldiers trying to advance toward the border village of Aita al-Shaab. “The remaining soldiers retreated under the cover of artillery shelling,” the statement said.

Aita al-Shaab is one of several Lebanese border towns where gun battles have been raging for weeks between Israeli troops and Hezbollah guerrillas.

Hezbollah said its guerrillas inflicted casualties on Israeli forces in the village of Rachaf as well, nine miles from the Israeli border.

“The Islamic Resistance (Hezbollah) has since early morning been engaged in fierce clashes (with Israeli troops) on the south-western outskirts of Rachaf. By 9.40am (7.40am Irish time), the (Israeli) enemy was trying to evacuate its casualties from the battlefield,” Hezbollah said in a statement broadcast on its Al-Manar television.

Fighting also continued in Beit Yahoun, with Hezbollah saying it destroyed an Israeli tank and bulldozer, killing or wounding their crews. The town is about seven miles from the Israeli border.

The Israeli military did not immediately comment on Hezbollah’s statements.