Israel bombs Lebanon-Syria border

Israeli jets have struck a border crossing between Syria and Lebanon in Matraba, injuring at least eight people, Syrian state media has reported.

The attack comes four days into West Jerusalem's campaign against Lebanon dubbed “Northern Arrows,” which it says is aimed at Hezbollah.

“The Israeli enemy suddenly targeted arrivals from Lebanese territory on the crossing bridge between Syria and Lebanon, injuring eight individuals,” Syrian state news agency SANA quoted the border crossing director, Ayal Alloush, as saying on Thursday.

Alloush also said the bombing caused property damage to the crossing and the surrounding area. Matraba is located in the Homs governorate, which borders northern and central Lebanon.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed striking “infrastructure” on the Syria-Lebanon border. The IDF has claimed that Hezbollah had been using the Matraba bridge to smuggle weapons from Syria, according to the Times of Israel.

Israeli bombs struck the bridge on the Syrian end of the crossing, Lebanese transportation minister Ali Hamieh told Reuters, adding that it was not clear whether the crossing was still usable.

The IDF has carried out over 1,500 sorties against Lebanon since Monday, claiming to have set Hezbollah capabilities back by 20 years. The strikes have killed nearly 700 people, including dozens of women and children, Lebanese authorities have said.

The deadliest single strike so far reportedly claimed 23 lives in the town of Younine, near Baalbek. Israeli bombs struck a building where Syrian refugees lived, killing mainly women and children, Younine mayor Ali Qusas has said.