BEIRUT 

The Israeli army intensified attacks in southern Lebanon early Thursday amid escalating tensions with Hezbollah group.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported several airstrikes in the border towns of Naqoura, Ayta al-Shaab, Kfarshouba and Khiyam.

Israeli artillery shelling also targeted Ramiya, Markaba and Labbouneh in southern Lebanon.

No information was yet available about casualties or damage.

Hezbollah, meanwhile, said that its fighters had targeted with anti-tank shells the Israeli army’s Biranit barracks in northern Israel.

Fears of a full-fledged war between Israel and Hezbollah have grown amid an exchange of cross-border attacks, especially after the July 30 assassination of senior Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukr in Beirut.

The escalation comes against the backdrop of a deadly Israeli onslaught on Gaza which has killed over 40,200 people since last October following an attack by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar