BEIRUT, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- Shamil Al-Qadiri, a 60-year-old Lebanese shepherd, began his day by herding his 250 goats to pastures near Rashaya Al-Wadi, a Lebanese town about 30 kilometers from the country's border with Israel.

Due to the ongoing confrontations between Hezbollah, a Shiite militant group in Lebanon, and Israeli forces, Shamil and other shepherds had to spend longer hours traveling to more remote pastures as the border areas had become increasingly perilous.

The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) launched a surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, which prompted extensive Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. To support Hamas, Hezbollah fired rockets toward Israel on Oct. 8, and the Israeli forces responded by firing heavy artillery on the same day.

The two sides have traded fire multiple times over the past week. The confrontations have killed nine people, including six Hezbollah fighters, a Lebanese journalist working for Reuters, and an elderly couple. In addition, the conflict damaged about 200 residential units, raising fears among residents in southern Lebanon.

The goats are the only source of income for the shepherds in the border area, however, most of the shepherds have chosen to move from the area to safer places, said Al-Qadiri.

In another part of southern Lebanon, hundreds of civilians fled the village of Al-Arqoub near the border region and arrived in the Lebanese town of Hasbaya.

Labib Hamra, mayor of Hasbaya, said that about 650 displaced people had arrived in the town and were living at the town's mosque and the Chehabi Castle, a large archaeological structure in southern Lebanon.

"We have drawn up an emergency plan in the municipality to receive the large number of displaced people," he said, adding that both the castle and the town's public halls had supplies that could host around 1,500 displaced people.

In order to flee the bombardment, a convoy of 28 vehicles left Aita al-Shaab in southern Lebanon and made their way to Sidon and Nabatieh.

"We hope we won't have to leave our houses for too long," said Adel Sourour, who escaped in his car along with seven family members.

"My children were frightened by the sound of shells that fell near our house," he said, adding that he was moving to his relatives in Tyre.

Statistics published by municipal authorities and the Nabatieh governorate revealed that 90 percent of people in Alma al-Shaab, Ain Ebel, and Rmeish were displaced, 70 percent from Naqoura, 15 percent from villages in Marjeyoun and 10 percent from Arqoub.

While it was still difficult to assess accurately the total number of displaced persons, local authorities estimate that more than 2,000 families have been displaced from border areas.

Adel Darwish, a resident from Al-Dhahira, said that the Israeli bombing had a serious impact on his town and had forced about 90 percent its approximately 4,000 residents to leave their homes. "Only 400 returned recently," he said.

The latest round of violence has raised concerns about a possible new war between Israel and Hezbollah, who have fought several times in the past.

The Lebanese government, which has little control over Hezbollah's actions, has called for an end to the hostilities and urged the international community to intervene to prevent further escalation.

As the situation remains tense and unpredictable, many Lebanese hope that the conflict will not escalate further and that they will be able to return to their homes soon.

"I don't want another war, we have suffered enough," said Al-Qadiri. Enditem

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