Israeli Positions Bombarded In Golan Heights Area
Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group launched dozens of rockets and shells on Sunday at three Israeli positions along the Lebanon-Israel border. The attack occurred in an area known as Chebaa Farms, which was captured by Israel from Syria during the 1967 Mideast war. However, Lebanon claims the area as part of its territory and refers to it as Lebanese.
The attack, which was carried out in solidarity with the Palestinian resistance, targeted Israeli positions in the disputed area as well as the nearby Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. In a statement, Hezbollah said that “large numbers of rockets and shells” were fired, directly hitting the Israeli positions.
In response, the Israeli military shelled the areas where the fire originated from on the Lebanese side of the border. There has been no immediate word on casualties from either side.
The Israeli military said in a statement that its initial assessment was that the attack was not able to cause any significant damage to the Israeli positions. However, they warned that they will continue to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of their civilians.
Tensions have been high between Israel and Hezbollah in recent months, with both sides exchanging threats and maintaining a state of readiness. The attack on Sunday is the most significant military escalation between the two sides since the 2006 war. It comes just days after Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, warned against any aggression on their part.
The latest attack is seen as a response to the recent violence in Gaza, where Israeli forces killed at least 25 Palestinians during protests against the U.S. embassy move to Jerusalem. Hezbollah has long been a staunch ally of the Palestinian cause and has supported their fight against Israeli occupation.
The UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL, has been monitoring the situation closely, and has called for “maximum restraint” from both sides. The international community has also expressed concern over the escalation and called for a de-escalation of tensions.
The attack on Sunday comes at a time when the already volatile region is facing multiple challenges, including the ongoing civil war in Syria, the crisis in Yemen, and the tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The incident serves as a reminder of the precarious situation in the Middle East and the potential for further violence. The international community must work towards finding a peaceful resolution to the longstanding conflicts in the region.