In a worrying development, an escalating border conflict between Israel and Lebanon saw a series of Israeli air strikes in south Lebanon that killed not less than five Syrians, with three of them being children.
According to Lebanese sources, one of the children was killed in an airstrike on farmland in the village of Umm Toot, while two others were killed in a drone attack on the Kfar Tebnit road, and two other Syrain civilians have also been reported killed.
UNICEF has denounced the tragedies; it alleges that it is horrific after the children of three were reportedly killed in front of their house while playing; children are still in danger as the fights persist.
The attacks occurred at a time when there was escalating conflict between the Israeli military and the Hezbollah armed group that has been attacking Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. As to the 48-hour ceasefire, Hezbollah said it would stop firing rockets once a truce agreement putting an end to the fighting in Gaza is signed.
Statistics from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) reveal that since the war in Gaza started in October last year, units, which include Israel, Hezbollah and other fighting factions in Lebanon, have staged over seven thousand cross-border operations. The recent conflict has made some analysts fear that the two traditional rivals may engage in a full-scale war.
