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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 2 hours later) | |
| 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. | 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 month-long war in 2006 and raised tensions in a volatile tri-border zone close to positions held by Syrian insurgents including Islamist factions. | |
| 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. | 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 Israeli military said in addition to the two dead soldiers, another seven troops were wounded. | The Israeli military said in addition to the two dead soldiers, another seven troops were wounded. |
| The United Nations, meanwhile, said a Spanish member of its peacekeeping force was killed in the village of Ghajar, which straddles the Israel-Lebanon frontier. | The United Nations, meanwhile, said a Spanish member of its peacekeeping force was killed in the village of Ghajar, which straddles the Israel-Lebanon frontier. |
| “We are looking into the circumstances of this tragic incident,” said Andrea Tenenti, spokesman for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. | “We are looking into the circumstances of this tragic incident,” said Andrea Tenenti, spokesman for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. |
| The clashes began when five antitank missiles struck Israeli troops traveling in a convoy of unmarked, unarmored civilian vehicles about a mile from the border. The attack was followed by mortar rounds launched from Lebanon that landed near Israeli troops in the foothills of Mount Hermon, according to Israeli military officials. | |
| The barrage was answered by dozens of artillery shells fired into 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 into Lebanon. Israeli military officials said their forces launched “aerial and ground strikes at Hezbollah operational positions.” |
| 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 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. |
| 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. | 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. | 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 demilitarized zone in the Golan Heights, killing the six Hezbollah members and an Iranian general. | On Jan. 18, a missile from an Israeli warplane struck a convoy traveling near the Syria-Israel demilitarized zone 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. |
| The Israeli military has been bracing for a retaliatory strike, moving additional soldiers, tanks and air-defense systems into border zone. | The Israeli military has been bracing for a retaliatory strike, moving additional soldiers, tanks and air-defense systems into border zone. |
| 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 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 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 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. | 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. | “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.” | “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.” | 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. | “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 swathes 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. |
| He later sharpened his warnings, singling out Iran and saying those “behind the attack today will pay the full price.” | He later sharpened his warnings, singling out Iran and saying those “behind the attack today will pay the full price.” |
| “For some time, through Hezbollah, Iran has been trying to build another terror front against us,”’ Netanyahu said after a meeting of Israel’s security cabinet. | “For some time, through Hezbollah, Iran has been trying to build another terror front against us,”’ Netanyahu said after a meeting of Israel’s security cabinet. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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.” | 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.” |
| The name, Quneitra Martyrs, appears to be a reference to the Hezbollah forces who killed in the Golan Heights earlier this month. | The name, Quneitra Martyrs, appears to be a reference to the Hezbollah forces who killed in the Golan Heights earlier this month. |
| 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. | 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. | Naylor reported from Beirut. Suzan Haidamous in Beirut also contributed to this report. |