Escalating Hezbollah attacks risk dragging Lebanon into a war, Israel’s military said on Sunday, following additional cross-border exchanges of fire that have increased fears of a larger battle.
Israel Defence spokesman Jonathan Conricus warned, “Hezbollah… is dragging Lebanon into a war that it will gain nothing from, but stands to lose a lot”.
According to Israeli officials, the Lebanese group is allied with Hamas, which sparked the latest bloodshed with a horrific October 7 assault in Israel that killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated, or burnt to death.
According to the Hamas-run health ministry, Israel’s retaliatory bombings on Gaza have killed almost 4,300 Palestinians, mostly civilians.
It has also traded fire with Hezbollah across its northern border, with Conricus accusing the organization of escalating dangerously.
“Hezbollah is playing a very, very dangerous game. They’re escalating the situation. We see more and more attacks every day”, he continued.
“Is the Lebanese state really willing to jeopardize what is left of Lebanese prosperity and Lebanese sovereignty for the sake of terrorists in Gaza?” he questioned.
“That’s a question that the Lebanese authorities need to ask themselves and answer”, he added.
Four Hezbollah members and a member of the Palestinian group Islamic Jihad were murdered in recent clashes in Lebanon, while three Israeli forces were hurt, one badly, in Hezbollah anti-tank fire, and two Thai farm workers were also injured.
Israel has ordered the evacuation of dozens of northern villages, and thousands of Lebanese have fled to the southern city of Tyre.
Naim Qassem, Hezbollah’s number two, has warned that the party may increase its role in the battle.
“Let’s be clear, as events unfold if something comes up that calls for greater intervention by us, we will do so”, he went on to say.
Iranian-backed in 2006, Hezbollah conducted a terrible battle with Israel, killing over 1,200 people in Lebanon, mostly civilians, and 160 in Israel, mostly troops.
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