Israel steps up Lebanon bombing as Hezbollah attacks Haifa

Israel has expanded attacks on southern Lebanon and pounded the capital Beirut’s southern suburbs as the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah has claimed a series of missile attacks on northern Israel, including near the city of Haifa.

A Lebanese security source said an Israeli strike on Monday hit the al-Kokoudi area, a few kilometres from Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport and close to Hezbollah’s stronghold in the suburb of Dahiyeh, which has been repeatedly targeted over the past few weeks.

The attack came after the southern suburbs were hit by more than 30 strikes overnight, the heaviest bombardment since September 23, the day Israel began a significant escalation in its assault on Lebanon, the NNA said.

The targets included a petrol station on the main highway leading to the Beirut airport and a warehouse for medical supplies, the agency said.