18 Israelis injured in Hezbollah missile strikes as border tensions grow

[CharlieH]

Eighteen Israelis have been injured, one critically, after the Iranian backed Hezbollah militia fired anti-tank missiles from southern Lebanon in a further sign that the skirmishes along the border are steadily escalating.

Several vehicles near the northern community of Dovev were hit in the missile strike, whose victims included Israel Electric Corporation employees who had arrived to repair power lines damaged by previous fire from Lebanon. Hezbollah sources had claimed they were soldiers, an assertion denied by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). The Magen David Adom emergency service said one of the civilians injured in the attack was in a critical condition.

 

Israel’s chief military spokesperson, R Adm Daniel Hagari, said the IDF was “at a very high state of readiness in the north” and that “Lebanon’s citizens will bear the cost of this recklessness”.

In a day of sporadic missile and droneexchanges, Israel also targeted two Hezbollah units that launched mortars from Lebanon at areas near the communities of Manara and Yir’on. Seven soldiers were lightly wounded in the Manara incident and taken to hospital, the army said.

Hezbollah-linked media reported that Israeli artillery targeted the town of Labbouneh and that sirens sounded at the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) centre in Naqoura.

The rightwing Israeli newspaper Maariv reported on Sunday that the IDF was preparing to deal a “strong blow” to Hezbollah in response to the escalation of its attacks. Israeli fire has killed at least 70 Hezbollah fighters since the start of hostilities.

An Israeli army spokesperson later said that a fighter jet and other aircraft attacked several Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, including “a military compound containing a warehouse of weapons and military infrastructure”.

Hezbollah’s chief, Hassan Nasrallah, said on Saturday that his group was using new weapons including attack drones “for the first time in the history of the resistance” in Lebanon.

Nasrallah’s speech prompted a warning from Israel’s defence minister, Yoav Gallant, who said Lebanese citizens would “pay the price” and added: “What we’re doing in Gaza, we can also do in Beirut.”

Lebanon’s prime minister, Najib Mikati, praised Hezbollah for its “patriotism” and said he had drawn up a three-month contingency plan in the even of a full war breaking out involving Lebanon.

“Caution is still being exercised and we hope that the contacts will lead to a cessation of Israeli attacks in the south of the country,” he said.

“Hezbollah behaves very patriotically and I trust the rationality of this movement. What matters most to me is keeping Lebanon far from war. We have always sought stability.”

An Israeli military spokesperson said: “At a time the Lebanese premier has said that he is reassured over the rationality of Hezbollah’s actions, the saboteurs of the terrorist party fired anti-tank shells at Israeli civilians from the electricity company, wounding several of them.

“This is a terrorist, irrational attack that targeted civilians and is risking Lebanon as a state. I believe that the Lebanese premier should not be reassured over the rationality of Hezbollah’s actions.”

 

FULL STORY

[Danderman123]

If Hezbollah continues unprovoked attacks on Israel, the response will be harsh.

[NextG]

3 minutes ago, Danderman123 said:

If Hezbollah continues unprovoked attacks on Israel, the response will be harsh.

Do you think they are unprovoked? It’s tit for tat. Which is why it hasn’t escalated thus far. But the Israelis want to have the last word, as always. 

[Morch]

26 minutes ago, NextG said:

Do you think they are unprovoked? It’s tit for tat. Which is why it hasn’t escalated thus far. But the Israelis want to have the last word, as always. 

 

How did Israel 'provoke' Hezbollah, this time?

[Jingthing]

2 minutes ago, Morch said:

 

How did Israel 'provoke' Hezbollah, this time?

By existing. 

[Morch]

31 minutes ago, Danderman123 said:

If Hezbollah continues unprovoked attacks on Israel, the response will be harsh.

 

I believe that there's an unofficial 'understanding' that some balance is kept - as in attacks from either side being on similar scale. No one wants a full on clash at this time. Israel would rather not open a second front, and not looking forward to Hezbollah full scale rocket barrages. Hezbollah doesn't want to suffer the same fate as Hamas, plus Lebanon can hardly withstand a war. The USA not eager to get directly involved. Iran not about to sacrifice it's main regional proxy for the Hamas's sake.

 

So long as no one makes a 'mistake' this will continue (at least until the Gaza fighting is resolved). The warnings sometimes aired by leaders and officials on both sides are basically notices to the other side to keep the 'rules'.

[thaibeachlovers]

Seems the israelis don't like it if the opposition can fire back.

[Morch]

4 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Seems the israelis don't like it if the opposition can fire back.

 

Seems like you don't have much of a point.

[Danderman123]

40 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Seems the israelis don't like it if the opposition can fire back.

Are you aware of anyone who likes incoming rockets?

 

[thaibeachlovers]

4 minutes ago, Danderman123 said:

Are you aware of anyone who likes incoming rockets?

 

I'm sure the israelis don't like being fired on any more than the Palestinians in the west bank being attacked by settlers, and being raided every night by the military. Not quite the same as the israelis can fire back, unlike the unarmed Palestinians.

[Morch]

Just now, thaibeachlovers said:

I'm sure the israelis don't like being fired on any more than the Palestinians in the west bank being attacked by settlers, and being raided every night by the military. Not quite the same as the israelis can fire back, unlike the unarmed Palestinians.

 

@thaibeachlovers

 

I'm sure you just tried to deflect.

The topic is about Hezbollah, and that was what your comment referred to.

[Danderman123]

4 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I'm sure the israelis don't like being fired on any more than the Palestinians in the west bank being attacked by settlers, and being raided every night by the military. Not quite the same as the israelis can fire back, unlike the unarmed Palestinians.

Irrelevant in the context of the Gaza war.

[thaibeachlovers]

12 hours ago, Danderman123 said:

Irrelevant in the context of the Gaza war.

If israel continues on the path it has taken, it will shortly be entirely in context. The conflict in the north isn't going to end any time soon, and with the provocations in the West Bank, that's likely to kick off any time soon.

[Morch]

4 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

If israel continues on the path it has taken, it will shortly be entirely in context. The conflict in the north isn't going to end any time soon, and with the provocations in the West Bank, that's likely to kick off any time soon.

 

@thaibeachlovers

 

If and if and if.....then on other comment you claim not to make predictions. Nobody suggested that the Hezbollah-Israel conflict is going to end - regardless of how things in the Gaza Strip are decided. Other than you wishing Hezbollah to fully join the fighting - how would this be in their interest? What will be gained? What would be the consequences for Lebanon?