Israel carried out strikes across Lebanon on Saturday, targeting the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, amid deadly ground clashes close to the country’s southern border.
The violence came as people around Lebanon attempted to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. At the same time, heavy rain and thunder swept through the capital, Beirut, where many displaced people are camping outside and have nowhere else to go, as the war approaches its fourth week.
The Israeli military said in a statement that it was targeting infrastructure in Beirut belonging to Hezbollah “with increasing intensity.”
Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that two areas in the south of the city had been hit early on Saturday, though it did not specify what had been targeted. The areas are considered Hezbollah strongholds. Footage broadcast on Lebanese news networks showed fire and plumes of smoke after several locations were hit.
It was not immediately clear whether there were any casualties from the attacks. Over 1,000 people have died in Lebanon since the war began, with more than 2,700 injured, according to Lebanese health officials.
Israel ordered mass evacuations from Beirut’s southern suburbs early in the war, but many people have continued to return to collect belongings and check on their homes and businesses.
Late on Friday, the Israeli military issued renewed evacuation warnings for seven areas of southern Beirut. Gunfire could be heard in the south of the city shortly before Israeli airstrikes began. Security analysts said that was likely Hezbollah’s way of warning those still in the neighborhood to leave.
Several villages and towns in southern Lebanon were also hit by Israeli airstrikes on Saturday, according to Lebanese state media.
Many Lebanese, battered by years of conflict, are worried that Israel could be preparing to mount a full-scale invasion of southern Lebanon.
Avichay Adraee, an Israeli military spokesman, said in a statement that Israeli forces had killed a Hezbollah militant in southern Lebanon during ground operations overnight. An Israeli Air Force plane also struck several other fighters who had fired at Israeli troops, while three other militants were killed by tank fire, Mr. Adraee said.
Israeli tanks were seen advancing on Saturday toward the coastal town of Naqoura, which is home to the headquarters of the United Nations peacekeeping force, according to a U.N. observation report reviewed by The New York Times.
Hezbollah said in statements on Saturday that the group was clashing with Israeli troops in Naqoura and several other border towns, including the strategically important town of Khiam, which has seen intense fighting in recent weeks.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah was ignited in early March after the group fired rockets on Israel, opening a new front in the wider war between Israel, the United States and Iran.
Sirens in Israel’s Upper Galilee region were activated at least four times in about two hours on Saturday, according to the Israeli military’s Home Front Command. Israel’s national emergency service reported property damage but no injuries after responding to incidents in the country’s north.
In Lebanon, more than a million people have been displaced so far. Space in shelters is limited, forcing many to sleep in their cars, on roadsides and in schools.
“Where do they want us to go?” said Hasnaa Ali Hashem, 55, who had fled the Burj al-Barajneh neighborhood in southern Beirut. Israel renewed an evacuation order for that area on Friday night.
Ms. Hashem said she had refused to leave her neighborhood until five days ago, when she evacuated to a stadium hosting displaced people. Rain poured through the stadium’s columns, she said, soaking makeshift tents and flimsy mattresses distributed by aid groups.
“We don’t want to live like this,” she said. “We want to go home.”
Rawan Sheikh Ahmad, Hwaida Saad and Euan Ward contributed reporting.
Abdi Latif Dahir is a Middle East correspondent for The Times, covering Lebanon and Syria. He is based in Beirut.
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