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Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah trade fire across border; at least 3 dead Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah trade fire across border; at least 3 dead
(about 1 hour later)
JERUSALEM —Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia exchanged deadly fire Wednesday across a border region monitored by U.N. peacekeepers, killing two Israeli soldiers and one member of the U.N. force in Lebanon. JERUSALEM — Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia exchanged deadly barrages Wednesday across a fractious border region monitored by U.N. peacekeepers in fighting that killed at least two Israeli soldiers and one U.N. observer.
The clashes marked one of the most serious flare-ups of violence in the area since a monthlong war in 2006 and raised tensions in a volatile tri-border zone close to positions held by Syrian insurgents including Islamist factions.The clashes marked one of the most serious flare-ups of violence in the area since a monthlong war in 2006 and raised tensions in a volatile tri-border zone close to positions held by Syrian insurgents including Islamist factions.
The Israeli military said in addition to the two dead soldiers, another seven were wounded. It also comes 10 days after an Israeli airstrike killed six Hezbollah fighters and a senior military commander from Iran, which backs the Shiite militias. Hezbollah leaders had vowed to retaliate.
The United Nations, meanwhile, said its peacekeeper was killed in the village of Ghajar, which straddles the Israel-Lebanon frontier. The Israeli military said in addition to the two dead soldiers, another seven troops were wounded.
“We are looking into the circumstances of this tragic incident,” said Andrea Tenenti, spokesman for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. The Associated Press reported the peacekeeper was from Spain. The United Nations, meanwhile, said a member of its peacekeeping force was killed in the village of Ghajar, which straddles the Israel-Lebanon frontier. The Associated Press reported he was from Spain.
The salvos began when an antitank missile struck an Israeli army vehicle traveling in a convoy along the border. The attack was launched in apparent retaliation for an Israeli airstrike earlier this month that killed six fighters from Hezbollah and a senior military officer from Iran, which backs the militia group. “We are looking into the circumstances of this tragic incident,” said Andrea Tenenti, spokesman for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.
The attack was followed by mortar rounds fired from Lebanon that landed near Israeli troops in the foothills of Mount Hermon, according to Israeli military officials. The clashes began when an anti-tank missile struck Israeli military and civilian vehicles traveling in a convoy along the border. The attack was followed by mortar rounds launched from Lebanon that landed near Israeli troops in area, in the foothills of Mount Hermon, according to Israeli military officials.
The barrage was answered by dozens of artillery shells fired by the Israelis at suspected Hezbollah targets inside Lebanon. Israeli military officials said their forces launched “aerial and ground strikes at Hezbollah operational positions.” The barrage was answered by dozens of artillery shells fired by the Israelis into Lebanon. Israeli military officials said their forces launched “aerial and ground strikes at Hezbollah operational positions.”
Hezbollah leaders previously vowed reprisals against Israel for an attack earlier this month. In a separate operation, Israeli jets hit Syrian army artillery positions near the Israel-occupied Golan Heights in response to two rockets fired from Syria the previous day. No casualties were reported.
In that incident, a missile on Jan. 18 struck a convoy traveling near the Syria-Israel border in the Golan Heights. Six members of Iranian-backed Hezbollah, as well as an Iranian general, were killed. The triangle where the Israel, Lebanon and Syria meet has been mostly quiet for years, but increasingly the civil war in Syria has spilled over.
Hezbollah has backed the embattled government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad — also supported by Iran. Israeli officials also claimed Hezbollah had been planning a large-scale “terror attack” against Israel.
On Jan. 18, a missile from an Israeli warplane struck a convoy traveling near the Syria-Israel border in the Golan Heights, killing the six Hezbollah members and an Iranian general.
Among the dead was Jihad Mughniyah, the son of Imad Mughniyah, a former top militant in the group who was assassinated in a 2008 car bombing in the Syrian capital, Damascus. Israel is suspected of playing a role in the elder Mughniyah’s killing.Among the dead was Jihad Mughniyah, the son of Imad Mughniyah, a former top militant in the group who was assassinated in a 2008 car bombing in the Syrian capital, Damascus. Israel is suspected of playing a role in the elder Mughniyah’s killing.
Israeli officials said that the group was planned a large-scale “terror attack” against Israel. The Israeli military has been bracing for a retaliatory strike, moving additional soldiers, tanks and air-defense systems into border zone.
The Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah militia and Israel fought a brutal war in 2006. Hezbollah forces are now fighting in Syria to bolster the Assad government against rebel forces, including members of Islamic State.
The Israeli military has been bracing a retaliatory strike, moving soldiers, tanks and air-defense systems into area in recent days.
After this morning’s exchange, Israeli civilians were evacuated from some areas along the border.After this morning’s exchange, Israeli civilians were evacuated from some areas along the border.
The exchange in fire Wednesday took place in a contested area known by the Israelis as Har Dov and by others as Shebaa Farms. Hezbollah says the area belongs to Lebanon, and the United Nations defines the area as part of Syria. The exchange of fire took place in a contested area known by the Israelis as Har Dov and by others as Shebaa Farms. Hezbollah says the area belongs to Lebanon, and the United Nations defines the area as part of Syria. The Israelis claim it is theirs.
“The tension in the north is very tricky. It’s a very flammable situation,” said Maj. Gen. Israel Ziv, a reserve officer in the Israel army and former chief of operations.“The tension in the north is very tricky. It’s a very flammable situation,” said Maj. Gen. Israel Ziv, a reserve officer in the Israel army and former chief of operations.
“Israel has to contain it, to defend our interests, but not get drawn in” to the Syrian battlefields, Ziv said.“Israel has to contain it, to defend our interests, but not get drawn in” to the Syrian battlefields, Ziv said.
If Hezbollah had fired rockets at Israeli population centers, instead of Israeli troops along the border, Israel would have likely hit back hard. If Hezbollah had fired rockets at Israeli population centers, instead of Israeli troops along the border, Israel may have likely hit back harder. But the death of two Israeli soldiers might also bring further Israeli action at a time when Hezbollah could be weakened.
Some analysts estimate that as many as 1,000 Hezbollah fighters have been killed in Syria, while others put that number in the hundreds. Hezbollah does not disclose such information, but its losses in Syria are widely believed to have been significant.Some analysts estimate that as many as 1,000 Hezbollah fighters have been killed in Syria, while others put that number in the hundreds. Hezbollah does not disclose such information, but its losses in Syria are widely believed to have been significant.
“Hezbollah is stretched thin because of Syria. Even if it were not in Syria, that doesn’t mean that Hezbollah would want a major escalation with Israel,” said Hilal Khashan, a professor at the American University of Beirut.
“The Israeli shelling in the south isn’t terribly intense,” Khashan said. “So I don’t think this will lead to a major conflagration.”
A Lebanese political analyst who has close ties with senior Hezbollah officials described the latest attack as “a trap set by Hezbollah.”
“It’s important to note that Hezbollah’s first statement was called Communiqué No. 1, which means that it is signaling that it is ready to fight more,” said the analyst who requested anonymity, because of the tense situation.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Hezbollah not to escalate.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Hezbollah not to escalate.
“I suggest that all those who are challenging us on our northern border, look at what happened in Gaza,” he said, referring to the 50-day war between Israel and the Islamist militant movement Hamas that left more than 2,100 Palestinians dead and swaths of Gaza in ruins. “I suggest that all those who are challenging us on our northern border, look at what happened in Gaza,” he said, referring to the 50-day war between Israel and the Islamist militant movement Hamas that left more than 2,100 Palestinians dead and swathes of Gaza in ruins.
“Hamas suffered the most serious blow since it was founded this past summer, and the [Israeli military] is prepared to act on every front,” Netanyahu said. “Hamas suffered the most serious blow since it was founded this past summer and the [Israeli military] is prepared to act on every front,” Netanyahu said.
Hezbollah’s television station, al-Manar, issued a statement from Hezbollah that read, “At 11:35, the battalion of Quneitra Martyrs launched an operation targeting a military convoy of the Zionist enemy, which included officers and soldiers. A number of vehicles were destroyed and several were injured.” Israel and Hezbollah fought a four-week war in 2006, which failed to dislodge key Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon and was interpreted in the Arab world as a victory for the militia group.
The name, Quneitra Martyrs, appears to be a reference to the Hezbollah forces who were killed in the Golan Heights earlier this month. Hezbollah’s television station, Al-Manar, issued a statement from Hezbollah that read, “At 11:35, the battalion of Quneitra Martyrs launched an operation targeting a military convoy of the Zionist enemy, which included officers and soldiers. A number of vehicles were destroyed and several were injured.”
Israeli military officials denied rumors that an Israeli soldier was kidnapped by Hezbollah forces. A kidnapping of Israeli soldiers was one of the events that led to the 2006 war. The name, Quneitra Martyrs, appears to be a reference to the Hezbollah forces who killed in the Golan Heights earlier this month.
Naylor reported from Beirut. Israeli military officials said rumors that an Israeli soldier were kidnapped by Hezbollah forces were untrue. A kidnap of Israeli soldiers was one of the events that led to the 2006 war.
Naylor reported from Beirut. Suzan Haidamous in Beirut also contributed to this report.