High tensions in southern Lebanon after Hezbollah response to Israeli airstrikes
A UNIFIL peacekeeper vehicle in the village of Adaisseh, near the Lebanese-Israeli border, in southern Lebanon, August 6, 2021. REUTERS - AZIZ TAHER
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3 min
A strong tension reigns in the south of Lebanon after the announcement by Hezbollah of the firing of "
dozens of rockets
" against Israeli positions in the farms of Shebaa, a region located near the Golan and claimed by Lebanon.
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With our correspondent in Beirut,
Paul Khalifeh
The rocket fire claimed by Hezbollah on Friday is a response to the air raids carried out the day before by the Israeli air force near two villages in southern Lebanon, according to a statement released by the Shiite party.
This escalation confirms fears of a return of tension in the southern part of Lebanon, where both Hezbollah and Israel are trying to change the unspoken rules of engagement.
Rules according to which the two enemies avoid cross-border military actions, and which were generally respected since 2006.
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Towards an uncontrolled escalation?
The Israeli army responded to the rocket fire with strikes in the far reaches of southern Lebanon.
Dozens of large caliber shells fell on the hills of Kafarchouba, in sparsely populated areas.
At the same time, the Israeli air force was flying over large areas of Lebanon.
Quoted by the Qatari channel al-Jazeera, a source of UNIFIL, the United Nations force deployed in southern Lebanon, described the situation as "
very dangerous
".
She called on the belligerents to respect the ceasefire to avoid an uncontrolled escalation.
Hezbollah's response came from predominantly Druze regions in the far south-eastern part of Lebanon.
A video circulating on social media shows angry residents intercepting a pickup carrying 122mm rocket launchers, accompanied by another vehicle.
The excited crowd attacked the occupants of the vehicles and protested against the fact that Hezbollah carried out these shots from areas near their village.
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Lebanon
Israel
Hezbollah
UN