LEBANESE resistance group Hezbollah said its fighters launched drones and rockets at northern Israel today, targeting the towns of Metula and Kiryat Shmona. 

In separate statements, the group claimed responsibilty for rocket fire targeting Israeli troops in border areas and a drone attack targeting a village.

Israeli forces shelled the town al-Khiam in southern Lebanon amid fierce clashes with Hezbollah fighters. 

Elsewhere in Lebanon’s south, Israeli attack hit Kfarseer, Zebdine and Harouf, while four people were killed in a strike on al-Ramadieh.

The previous day, the European Union and Britain issued a joint statement calling for an immediate de-escalation in Lebanon.

The foreign ministers of Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Britain and the high representative of the European Union said: “We express our condolences to the family of the victims and our solidarity to the civilian population impacted by this war both in Lebanon and Israel.”

The statement condemned Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel in support of Iran, which has been fighting back since the United States and Israel launched an illegal and unprovoked war on February 28. 

The Lebanese group’s military action “must cease immediately,” the statement said. “The priority is to avoid a further escalation of the regional conflict with Iran.”

The statement called on all parties to de-escalate immediately, revert to the cessation of hostilities agreement and United Nations security council resolution 1701 of 2006 and to protect the civilian population, humanitarian personnel, the UN peacekeeping force — known as Unifil — and civilian infrastructure.

It said: “We reaffirm our concern regarding the forced displacement of over one million people in Lebanon. We call on Israel to avoid a further widening of the conflict including through a ground operation on Lebanese territory. 

“We strongly reaffirm that the territorial integrity of Lebanon must be respected.

“We urge all parties, under all circumstances, to ensure the safety and security of Unifil personnel and premises, in accordance with international law,” the statement concluded.