The Israeli army continued its attacks on the southern suburbs of Beirut, capital of Lebanon, with Hezbollah engaging in fierce battles with the Israeli forces in southern Lebanon on Saturday.
Several explosions were heard over the capital, and thick smoke rose from many places including the area near the Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport.
The Times of Israel reported the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) targeted command centers, weapons caches, tunnels of the Hezbollah.
IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari on the same day said that since the "limited ground operation" against Hezbollah targets in the southern border area of Lebanon began on Sept. 30, the IDF has killed about 440 Hezbollah members, including 30 commanders.
It is also reported that the IDF issued an evacuation order to some residents in Burj Barajneh, a town in the southern suburbs of Beirut on Saturday, and the area was hit by Israeli airstrikes afterwards.
Hezbollah continued to fire rockets at Israel on Saturday, with air defense alarm sounded in the northern Israeli city of Haifa, and explosions heard over Haifa.
The IDF issued a statement on Saturday afternoon, saying that the Israeli army detected about 60 rockets fired from Lebanon to northern Israel, most of which were intercepted by the Israeli air defense system, and the rest fell in northern Israel.
Hezbollah also stated that Hezbollah militants exchanged fire with Israeli soldiers in the southern border area of Lebanon and blocked Israel's attempt to advance towards the Lebanese border town of Adaysseh.
Israeli forces continue attacks on southern suburbs of Beirut
A delegation of 40 students and teachers from seven Chinese mainland universities on Thursday wrapped up their nine-day visit to Taiwan. They set off for Taiwan on Nov. 27 and visited universities, historical sites, scenic spots, as well as sports, sci-tech and cultural venues on the island, widely engaging with locals throughout the tour.
The delegation made the tour at the invitation of the Taiwan-based Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation.
"The young people from both sides of the Strait share the same root, and we are having a harmonious communication this time. We also welcome young people from Taiwan to visit the mainland for exchange," Cao Yibo, a student from Peking University, told reporters during the tour.
The delegation included table tennis Olympic champion Ma Long who studies at Beijing Sport University, and air rifle Olympic champion Yang Qian of Tsinghua University.
"In the future, I would like to visit Taiwan again. I did not expect that so many compatriots in Taiwan would come to welcome and us and pay so much attention to our exchange tour," Ma said.
Hsiao Hsu-tsen, executive director of the Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation, saw off the delegation at the airport on Thursday, and said the mainland students and teachers had received Taiwan residents' heartfelt welcome wherever they went.
"The farewell dinner party was held yesterday evening, when almost all students from the mainland shared their feelings. What moved me so much is that every one of them thanked people here, because the latter sincerely and warmly welcomed them wherever they went during the nine-day tour. They told me that when they go back, they will tell their relatives and friends that people in Taiwan are kind, hospitable and warm. I believe that is the most important purpose of the exchange across the Strait," he said.
Calling youth exchanges a foundation of cross-Strait relations in the future, Hsiao said the foundation will carry on and continue to promote such exchanges across the Strait.
This is the second delegation of mainland teachers and students visiting Taiwan at the invitation of the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, following the visit by a first delegation in July last year.
Delegation of mainland university students, teachers wraps up Taiwan visit
