Israel Bombs South Lebanon And Deploys Tens Of Thousands After Hezbollah Attack
Israel bombs South Lebanon and deploys tens of thousands after Hezbollah attack, targeting Hezbollah militants in response to the group's firing of anti-tank missiles that initially struck Israeli soldiers. According to Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, the spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), on Wednesday, the IDF launched artillery strikes on the Lebanese border town of Duhaira and the vicinity where the missile attack originated.
In addition to the counteroffensive in the Gaza Strip, Israel is actively engaging in operations along its northern border with Lebanon against Hezbollah, thereby establishing a secondary front.
"We have deployed tens of thousands of additional units along the northern border," Conricus said, including infantry, special forces, armored forces, artillery, air forces, and "additional assets including intelligence and logistics."
He added, "The message to Hezbollah is very clear: 'If they try to attack, we are ready and we are vigilant on our border.'"
Hezbollah is a Shiite militia group based in Lebanon with strong backing from Iran. It holds the designation of a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department.
COPYRIGHT_BP: Published on https://bingepost.com/israel-bombs-south-lebanon-and-deploys-tens-of-thousands-after-hezbollah-attack/ by Cecilia Jones on 2023-10-12T03:36:16.540Z
It's important to note that Hezbollah operates independently from Hamas, another organization classified as a terrorist group by the U.S. government, which is primarily based in Gaza. While the Iran-supported Hezbollah has expressed support for Hamas' attacks on Israel, it has not formally entered the conflict.
Residents in the southern Lebanese town of Rmeish reported that Israeli shelling struck in close proximity. According to a security source, Israeli artillery rounds were targeting the rocket launch site near Dhayra, situated opposite Arab al-Aramshe.
For the residents in those towns, the recent outbreak of violence has evoked memories of the summer of 2006 when a harsh month-long war took place between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel. The local Lebanese TV station, al-Jadeed, aired footage showing thick plumes of white smoke rising from wooded areas near residences and farmland in Dhayra.
Both Hezbollah and the Palestinian faction Hamas asserted responsibility for attacks originating from Lebanon on Tuesday. Hezbollah launched a precision-guided missile at an Israeli tank and even shared a video depicting its destruction. Meanwhile, Hamas reported firing a barrage of rockets from Al-Koleilah into Israel.
Israel dispatched additional troops to the border between Israel and Lebanon following an incident in which Hezbollah fired anti-tank missiles at an Israeli military outpost located in the northern border town of Aramsha.
Hezbollah, in a statement on Wednesday, asserted that the attack resulted in a significant number of casualties among Israeli troops, both in terms of injuries and fatalities, although they did not provide specific figures. The militant group cited the Israeli shelling that occurred on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of three Hezbollah fighters, as the reason for their actions. Furthermore, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported an attempted border incursion by Hezbollah during the same period.
“„In Southern Lebanon, Hezbollah has already fired anti-tank missiles and rockets at our positions and soldiers, fortunately without any significant casualties. There has already been an attempt of Islamic jihad terrorists infiltrating into Israel. That attempt was successfully thwarted by the IDF, sadly at the cost of a senior [IDF] officer and two other soldiers.- Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus
According to Conricus, Israel found itself engaged in a third front of combat when rockets were detected originating from Syria. Conricus refrained from specifying whether the rocket launchers belonged to Hezbollah, a Syrian militant organization, or another faction. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) promptly responded by returning fire, targeting the location from which the rockets had been launched.
“„The death toll is a staggering 1,200 Israelis. I'll repeat that number because it is unimaginable. 1,200 dead Israelis - the overwhelming majority of them [are] civilians.- Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus
Conclusion
Conricus clarified that the increase in the death toll was not a result of fresh combat but rather due to the Israel Defense Forces successfully conducting thorough searches in areas that had been infiltrated by Hamas on Saturday. During these searches, they uncovered bodies in various communities where Hamas had conducted violent actions.
