MARJAYOUN, Lebanon, Jan 26 (News Agencies) - Israeli helicopters and tanks bombed hamlets near the disputed Shebaa Farms region Friday evening, Lebanese security services said.
They said an Israeli Merkava tank fired 16 shells toward the Bastara and Halta hamlets adjacent to the Shebaa Farms, which is held by Israel but claimed by Lebanon.
Israeli forces also fired on the sector with machine-guns and two helicopters holding 12.7-caliber artillery.
There was no immediate word on casualties or damage from the bombing, which began at 17:00 pm (1500 GMT) and continued in spurts for nearly two hours.
Israel has periodically hit south Lebanon since October 7th, where the Shiite Muslim movement Hezbollah snatched three Israeli soldiers, whom they hope to swap for Arab prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Israeli forces withdrew from southern Lebanon in May, ending a 22-year occupation.
Beirut insists they also leave the Shebaa Farms area, but Israel says it was captured in 1967 from Syria, Lebanon's political master, and that the area's fate is subject to any eventual peace deal with Damascus.
