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| Antitank Missile Hits Israeli Military Vehicle Along Lebanese Border | Antitank Missile Hits Israeli Military Vehicle Along Lebanese Border |
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| JERUSALEM — At least one Israeli military vehicle was hit by an antitank missile in a disputed area along the Lebanese border on Wednesday, according to the Israeli military, in what appeared to be the most serious flare-up in the area in years. | JERUSALEM — At least one Israeli military vehicle was hit by an antitank missile in a disputed area along the Lebanese border on Wednesday, according to the Israeli military, in what appeared to be the most serious flare-up in the area in years. |
| The military said there were casualties among the soldiers, but did not provide details. There may also have been some civilian casualties, according to the military, but the situation was not immediately clear. | The military said there were casualties among the soldiers, but did not provide details. There may also have been some civilian casualties, according to the military, but the situation was not immediately clear. |
| Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attack, saying in a statement that its Quneitra Martyrs Brigade carried it out at 11:35 a.m. | Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attack, saying in a statement that its Quneitra Martyrs Brigade carried it out at 11:35 a.m. |
| The attack on Wednesday was the latest in a string of recent events along Israel’s northern frontiers that have sharply escalated tensions between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, and that have raised the risk of broader confrontation. | The attack on Wednesday was the latest in a string of recent events along Israel’s northern frontiers that have sharply escalated tensions between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, and that have raised the risk of broader confrontation. |
| About an hour after the initial attack on the military convoy, several mortar shells were fired at Israeli military positions in the border area and on Mount Hermon in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, without causing injury. | About an hour after the initial attack on the military convoy, several mortar shells were fired at Israeli military positions in the border area and on Mount Hermon in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, without causing injury. |
| The Israeli military said it responded with combined aerial and ground strikes at what it called “Hezbollah operational positions” in Lebanon, and said that it might take further action. | The Israeli military said it responded with combined aerial and ground strikes at what it called “Hezbollah operational positions” in Lebanon, and said that it might take further action. |
| “At these moments, the I.D.F. is responding to events in the north,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Twitter, referring to the Israel Defense Forces. “We will not allow terror elements to disrupt the lives of our citizens and threaten their security. We will know how to respond with force to whoever challenges us.” | “At these moments, the I.D.F. is responding to events in the north,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Twitter, referring to the Israel Defense Forces. “We will not allow terror elements to disrupt the lives of our citizens and threaten their security. We will know how to respond with force to whoever challenges us.” |
| Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, a spokesman for the Israeli military, described the events as “a severe escalation on our northern border.” Military leaders convened in Tel Aviv to assess the situation. | Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, a spokesman for the Israeli military, described the events as “a severe escalation on our northern border.” Military leaders convened in Tel Aviv to assess the situation. |
| In the early afternoon, the two sides were still firing rockets or artillery at each other, the National News Agency of Lebanon reported. Witnesses in southern Lebanon said that Israeli ordnance had landed on their side of the border, extending from Shebaa to the south. The Lebanese news channel Al Mayadeen also reported that at least eight Israeli rockets had hit southern Lebanon. | |
| The National News Agency said that a Spanish soldier serving in the United Nations peacekeeping force on the border was wounded when Israeli shells hit Abbasiyeh, a village in southern Lebanon. Al Manar, Hezbollah’s news channel, reported that the Spanish soldier was killed. | |
| The National News Agency also said that an Israeli soldier had been captured from the convoy that was hit in the initial attack. Israeli officials said none of their soldiers were missing. | |
| Israel’s hardline foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, told his Chinese counterpart during a visit to Beijing that Israel should “change its approach” and respond to the missile attack “in a very harsh and disproportionate manner,” according to a statement on his Facebook page. | |
| The hostilities have been building for days. On Tuesday, at least two rockets fired from Syria struck the Israeli-controlled portion of the Golan Heights, without causing injury. Israel responded immediately with artillery toward the suspected launching sites in Syria, and overnight it carried out airstrikes in Syrian territory in areas under the control of the Syrian Army. | The hostilities have been building for days. On Tuesday, at least two rockets fired from Syria struck the Israeli-controlled portion of the Golan Heights, without causing injury. Israel responded immediately with artillery toward the suspected launching sites in Syria, and overnight it carried out airstrikes in Syrian territory in areas under the control of the Syrian Army. |
| Israel’s defense minister, Moshe Yaalon, said the airstrikes were “a clear message that we will not tolerate any fire toward Israeli territory and any violation of our sovereignty, and we will respond with force and determination,” according to a statement from his office. | Israel’s defense minister, Moshe Yaalon, said the airstrikes were “a clear message that we will not tolerate any fire toward Israeli territory and any violation of our sovereignty, and we will respond with force and determination,” according to a statement from his office. |
| That exchange came nine days after a deadly airstrike, attributed to Israel, on a convoy in the Syrian portion of the Golan Heights. The airstrike killed five fighters from Hezbollah, including the son of the group’s slain military commander, Imad Mughniyeh, and an Iranian general. Israeli military commentators said that Hezbollah and its Iranian patron had been building an infrastructure in the Syrian Golan Heights with which to attack Israel. | That exchange came nine days after a deadly airstrike, attributed to Israel, on a convoy in the Syrian portion of the Golan Heights. The airstrike killed five fighters from Hezbollah, including the son of the group’s slain military commander, Imad Mughniyeh, and an Iranian general. Israeli military commentators said that Hezbollah and its Iranian patron had been building an infrastructure in the Syrian Golan Heights with which to attack Israel. |
| Hezbollah, which fought a monthlong war against Israel in 2006, is now fighting in Syria on the side of President Bashar al-Assad’s government. | Hezbollah, which fought a monthlong war against Israel in 2006, is now fighting in Syria on the side of President Bashar al-Assad’s government. |
| Since that strike, the Israeli Army has been on high alert in expectation of a revenge attack. A top Iranian commander had warned Israel to prepare for a “shattering thunderbolt.” | Since that strike, the Israeli Army has been on high alert in expectation of a revenge attack. A top Iranian commander had warned Israel to prepare for a “shattering thunderbolt.” |
| Israeli military analysts predicted that Hezbollah would hit back against Israeli soldiers to exact revenge, but that it would avoid a full-scale war — a more likely outcome if it directed attacks at Israeli civilians. | Israeli military analysts predicted that Hezbollah would hit back against Israeli soldiers to exact revenge, but that it would avoid a full-scale war — a more likely outcome if it directed attacks at Israeli civilians. |
| Still, several retired Israeli military generals said that Wednesday’s exchange was more serious than previous ones, and that it might be difficult to avoid further escalation. | |
| “The tension in the north, it’s a very tricky and I would say flammable situation,” Israel Ziv, a reserve major general who once led the army’s operations directorate, said in a call with international journalists. “It’s very clear that, very easily from events and retaliation, we will find ourselves in a war that does not belong to Israel.” | “The tension in the north, it’s a very tricky and I would say flammable situation,” Israel Ziv, a reserve major general who once led the army’s operations directorate, said in a call with international journalists. “It’s very clear that, very easily from events and retaliation, we will find ourselves in a war that does not belong to Israel.” |
| Kobi Marom, a former commander in the north who lives in the Golan Heights, said both Israel and Hezbollah wanted to avoid another war, but that it may be impossible. | Kobi Marom, a former commander in the north who lives in the Golan Heights, said both Israel and Hezbollah wanted to avoid another war, but that it may be impossible. |
| “This serious incident with casualties calls for a response,” Mr. Marom said on Israel Radio. “Even if both sides don’t want it, we could deteriorate to a very difficult reality.” | “This serious incident with casualties calls for a response,” Mr. Marom said on Israel Radio. “Even if both sides don’t want it, we could deteriorate to a very difficult reality.” |
| The escalation is taking place against the background of an election campaign in Israel. Mr. Netanyahu, who is viewed by many Israelis as having strong security credentials, is competing for a fourth term in office. | The escalation is taking place against the background of an election campaign in Israel. Mr. Netanyahu, who is viewed by many Israelis as having strong security credentials, is competing for a fourth term in office. |
| Wednesday’s attack took place in the Shebaa Farms, an area known as Mount Dov in Israel. Lebanon considers it occupied by Israel, and Syria also claims it. Israel captured the area, along with the adjacent Golan Heights, in the 1967 war and later annexed both regions in a move not recognized by the United Nations. | Wednesday’s attack took place in the Shebaa Farms, an area known as Mount Dov in Israel. Lebanon considers it occupied by Israel, and Syria also claims it. Israel captured the area, along with the adjacent Golan Heights, in the 1967 war and later annexed both regions in a move not recognized by the United Nations. |
| It had echoes of the cross-border raid by Hezbollah in 2006 that precipitated the war, which left more than 1,000 Lebanese and roughly 160 Israelis dead. At the time, Hezbollah fired an antitank missile at an Israeli border patrol. Three soldiers were killed and two were seized and taken into Lebanon. Five more Israeli soldiers were killed as they gave chase. | It had echoes of the cross-border raid by Hezbollah in 2006 that precipitated the war, which left more than 1,000 Lebanese and roughly 160 Israelis dead. At the time, Hezbollah fired an antitank missile at an Israeli border patrol. Three soldiers were killed and two were seized and taken into Lebanon. Five more Israeli soldiers were killed as they gave chase. |
| The remains of the captive soldiers were returned to Israel in a prisoner exchange in 2008. Israeli officials concluded that both soldiers had been badly wounded in the initial ambush and had probably not survived. | The remains of the captive soldiers were returned to Israel in a prisoner exchange in 2008. Israeli officials concluded that both soldiers had been badly wounded in the initial ambush and had probably not survived. |
| Shortly before Wednesday’s attack, a Hezbollah fighter in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon said by telephone that residents were storing food, fearing an Israeli attack. | Shortly before Wednesday’s attack, a Hezbollah fighter in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon said by telephone that residents were storing food, fearing an Israeli attack. |