Israel says its fighter jets have pounded Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon after an incoming antitank missile wounded Israelis near the border.
The Israeli army on Sunday said a number of civilians were wounded in the antitank missile strike near the village of Dovev, just 800 meters (0.5 miles) from the frontier with Lebanon.
The Israel Electric Corporation said the missile from Lebanon hit employees who were in Dovev to repair power lines downed by earlier strikes.
Iran-backed Hezbollah group claimed responsibility and said it had fired on an Israeli team installing eavesdropping and spying devices near the border.
Since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack followed by Israel’s offensive on Gaza, Israel has also traded fire with armed groups in southern Lebanon on a near-daily basis.
Israel has killed more than 11,000 people – 74% of them women and children – as the Gaza assault forces the displacement of 1.7 million people over the past five weeks.
In addition to Hezbollah, Hamas’s Lebanese branch has also launched counter attacks into southern Israel in recent weeks. The UN children’s fund (UNICEF) says 700,000 children in Gaza have been “forced to leave everything behind” amid relentless Israeli bombardment.
The Israeli army said 15 rockets were fired towards northern Israel from Lebanon on Sunday, with four intercepted by a missile defense system.
The Lebanese branch of Qassam Brigades claimed responsibility for the attacks targeting the Israeli cities of Haifa, Nahariya and Shlomi in response to massacres and aggression in Gaza. Israeli medics said at least 10 people were injured.
Cross-border attacks from Lebanon have killed at least six Israeli soldiers and two civilians, according to the army and paramedics.
Israeli leaders have warned Hezbollah against launching a full-scale attack on Israel, saying it could suffer a similar total destruction fate to besieged Gaza if it enters the war. Israel and Hezbollah also fought a month-long war in 2006.
Al Jazeera / ABC Flash Point News 2023.
Gaza, in Arabic is Ezza meaning pride. It was pride which made Taliban fight the west for 20 years. Ezza will shape the future. Arab leaders need to reconcile with their people first if they have any sense. If they don’t and Ezza fails then Israel will next displace the Arab people to create Greater Israel as the Zionists have been doing in Palestine.
Displacement with the backing of Washington and London will be difficult to fight against. I cannot see Iran and it’s militias prepared to risk their lives in a short or long battle with weapons that haven’t gained substantial success. Iran and Hezbollah allegedly have access to Russian made anti-aircraft missiles. Reis and Nasrallah make big statements but don’t make their promises reality. Sure Israel is the enemy but they appear to be restricted in what is possible. Jordan is accused of exchanging intelligence with Israel (YT) on Hamas. An international peacekeeping force is proposed post-Gaza war but nothing agreed to… Read more »