Israeli army continued its shelling to several areas in Lebanon, and shelled a historic lighthouse in a densely populated area in Beirut, as well as killing one man in an air strike on the eastern Biqa’ valley. Two people were injured.
The shelled lighthouse, a renowned icon of Lebanon’ capital, Beirut, was constructed during the French colonial-era in Lebanon. The top of the lighthouse was damaged.
The lighthouse, which is no longer in use, is located between the Saudi embassy compound, the Lebanese American University, a French school and the heavily-guarded private villa of the family of slain former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, the Naharnet online daily reported.
Lebanese Television networks showed live video of the damage, with part of the tower’s roof damaged.
A senior Lebanese security official told the Associated Press that the old lighthouse included a relay for the Radio Liban state station.
The official added that another relay station in the northern coastal village of Amshit was also hit by Israeli military fire.
Moreover, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a minibus driving in the eastern Biqa’ valley, one person was killed in the attack, twelve were injured.
The attack took place close to the Rayak town, 5km east of the province of Zahle.
Also, Israeli troops shelled a road that links between Ba’alabak and the Syrian city of Himss.
Israeli warplanes also dropped leaflets over northern Lebanon for the first time on Thursday. The leaflets warned trucks from driving on a coastal road linking Lebanon with Syria.
Leaflets also fell on Tripoli, the second largest city in Lebanon, 25km from the Syrian border, and others areas including Beddawi Palestinian refugee camp.
More leaflets dropped over Beirut’s downtown and other neighborhoods. They threatened a "painful and strong" response to Hizbullah attacks, and warned residents of Hayy al Sellum, Bourj al Barajneh and Chiyah in the southern suburbs to evacuate immediately.
"The Israeli Defense Forces intend to expand their operations in Beirut," the single-page leaflet read.
On Thursday, fighters fired rockets at the Arab village of Dir al Assad in Israel seriously killing a woman and her baby daughter, medics said.
Moreover, flayers dropped over areas in northern Lebanon warned that the army will shell trucks of any kind after 8 p.m, if they drive on the northern coast road between Lebanon and Syria.
The trucks, according to the Israeli leaflets would"suspected of carrying rockets, military hardware and saboteurs."
Also, soldiers imposed curfew on several areas and town in southern Lebanon since early Tuesday.
The Naharnet added Roland Huguenin, a spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross, said Israel has repeatedly denied request to reach "a whole list of places," including a plan to rescue a family believed trapped in an abandoned orphanage in Maarub, about 20 kilometers from Tyre.
According to red Cross statistics, 33.000 people are still living in villages in southern Lebanon, another 27.000 are still in Tyre, 40.000 Palestinian refugees are still in four camps in souther Lebanon.
