BEIRUT: On Wednesday, Hezbollah announced that it had launched missiles into Israel in response to the recent killing of three of its fighters during the ongoing border tensions. This missile exchange unfolded while Israel mobilized its troops and heavy armored units in the vicinity of Gaza as part of its ongoing campaign against Hamas.
Hezbollah, in a statement, conveyed that it had “targeted a Zionist (Israeli) position… facing Dhayra village with precision-guided missiles.” The group described this action as a “firm response to Zionist attacks that resulted in the martyrdom of several of its members.” Additionally, Hezbollah issued a warning of a “decisive” reaction to Israeli assaults that “jeopardize our nation and the safety of our people,” particularly when such actions result in the loss of innocent lives.
The Israeli military responded by stating that “in response to the anti-tank missile fired at IDF (army) soldiers a short while ago, an IDF aircraft struck a military observation post belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization in southern Lebanon.” The Israeli military also reported artillery fire targeting “the area from which the launch originated.”
US President Joe Biden announced that the United States was providing increased assistance to Israel, including missiles for its Iron Dome interceptor system. Additionally, the largest US aircraft carrier was ordered to move closer to Israel.
Hezbollah criticized President Biden’s position, suggesting that the deployment of the aircraft carrier battle group “exposed the vulnerabilities of the Israeli military machine and its reliance on continuous external support.” Hezbollah emphasized that such moves would not deter “resistance factions ready for confrontation.”
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported that Israeli fire on a border village had resulted in the injury of three civilians and noted that “approximately 10 houses were directly affected.” Earlier, an AFP correspondent in the border village of Dhayra had observed shelling near residential areas that ignited fires in nearby groves. The NNA reported that Israeli fire at various locations along the border had been “met with resistance from Hezbollah machine guns.”
On Monday, Hezbollah disclosed that three of its members had been killed in Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon after Palestinian fighters attempted to cross the border.
Both Israel and its staunch ally, the United States, have cautioned Hezbollah against opening a second front while Israel grapples with the conflict in Gaza. The Israeli military has declared its readiness for any scenario.
Army spokesman Daniel Hagari emphasized, “Hezbollah is closely monitoring Israel’s actions in Gaza and is witnessing the extent of destruction. Hezbollah comprehends this.”
The Lebanese army reported the discovery of “the rocket launcher that fired a number of rockets” on Tuesday, an attack claimed by Hamas.
In 2006, Hezbollah and Israel engaged in a devastating 34-day war that resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 individuals in Lebanon, primarily civilians, and 160 in Israel, mostly soldiers.
