Israeli incursions and raids on southern Lebanon are paving the way for a military battle as the army has been striking heights overlooking villages and towns it is occupying. Israel has also been targeting roads and routes that run deeper into Lebanese territory, notably around Bint Jbeil city, security sources told Asharq Al-Awsat. The operations and raids are focusing on the Ali al-Taher heights in the eastern sector that Israel has been trying to capture for ten weeks. In the central sector, it has been focusing on routes leading to Bint Jbeil and, closer to the coast, it has been carrying out similar incursions and detonations in the towns of Majdal Zoun and al-Mansouri. The security sources said the operations appear to be paving the way for a military battle. The attacks are targeting all the hills surrounding Ali al-Taher, especially the al-Dabsha and al-Tahra that were occupied by Israel before it withdrew from the South in 2000. The sources explained that focusing attacks on the hills and destroying houses around Ali al-Taher means that the troops are trying to isolate the entire strategic area from its surroundings. For the past week, Israeli raids struck under-constructions houses and villas in the Dawhet Kfar Rumman and Nabatieh al-Fawqa areas, located north and southwest of Ali al-Taher respectively. It also continued to blow up houses in Kfar Tebnint that is located directly west of Ali al-Taher. Israel has also struck Ali al-Taher itself with artillery and phosphorous bombs. Lebanese media on Sunday said Israel used artillery to hit Mayfadoun and airstrikes hit Nabatieh al-Fawqa and Dawhet Kfar Rumman. In the central sector, Israeli troops carried out incursions into four unoccupied towns: Beit Yahoun, Baraachit, Hadatha and Aita al-Jabal, all of which lead to Bint Jbeil, which is occupied by Israel. The sources said a potential military battle in the future will not be limited to Ali al-Taher, but encompass the central sector. The incursions are covering an area stretching some five kilometers from Baraachit to Hadatha in an attempt to create a buffer zone close to Ali al-Taher and capture areas that overlooking nearby valleys.
