Israel says its military struck Hezbollah members inside Lebanon mosque

The Israeli military on Saturday said that it had struck Hezbollah members inside a mosque in southern Lebanon’s Bint Jbeil, the first such attack since clashes erupted between Israel and the militants last year.

The mosque was reportedly located adjacent to the Salah Ghandour Hospital.

“The command center was used by the Hezbollah terrorists to plan and execute terrorist attacks against IDF troops and the state of Israel,” the military said in a statement.

The hospital, which is operated by the Hezbollah-affiliated Islamic Health Committee, said that nine of its medical and nursing staff were wounded by heavy strikes, most of them seriously, after it received an Israeli warning to evacuate.

Before the strike, the IDF reported that it had sent text messages to residents and contacted local officials in nearby villages, urging them to stop all terrorist activities taking place at the hospital immediately.

Hezbollah fighters confront Israeli troops

Hezbollah said Saturday its fighters were confronting Israeli troops in Lebanon’s southern border region, where the Israeli military said it struck militants from the Iran-backed movement at a mosque.

Israel to strike Iran’s nuclear plants?

Meanwhile, an official from the US State Department has told CNN that Israel has not given any assurances to the Biden administration that it will target Iran’s nuclear facilities as it plans to retaliate.

Earlier this week, US President Joe Biden advised Israel not to hit Iran’s nuclear plants.

“We hope and expect to see some wisdom as well as strength, but as you guys know, no guarantees,” the State Department official said.

With inputs from agencies