The alert heightens fears that a low-intensity conflict on the Israel-Lebanon border could escalate into a full-scale war.
Hezbollah has warned that it will find new targets for its rocket attacks if Israeli attacks continue to “target” civilians in Lebanon.
Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Lebanese armed group, made the threat in a televised speech on Wednesday. His remarks reinforce fears that the The low-intensity conflict that Israel and the Iran-aligned group have been waging since the start of the Gaza war could escalate into a full-scale war.
Noting that eight non-combatants have been killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon in recent days, Nasrallah said further civilian bloodshed would see Hezbollah firing on more Israeli cities.
“Continuing to target civilians will push the resistance to launch missiles at settlements that were not previously targeted,” he said in a speech on the occasion of the largely Shiite religious holiday of Ashura.
Five civilians, including three children, were killed in Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon on Tuesday. At least three Lebanese civilians were killed the day before, according to state media and security sources.
“Children in danger”
Israel said it was striking Hezbollah fighters and infrastructure in Lebanon and was not targeting civilians.
Its attacks have killed more than 500 people in Lebanon since October 7. Most of the victims are Hezbollah fighters, but more than 100 civilians are also believed to have been killed.
The attacks also wreaked havoc in Lebanese border villages.
Hezbollah attacks in Israel have killed 17 soldiers and 13 civilians, authorities said, triggering months-long evacuation orders in the north of the country.
The deaths of children who were reportedly playing outside their homes when the Israeli attack struck on Tuesday have drawn widespread criticism.
The UN children’s agency UNICEF described the incident as “horrific”.
The deaths of three more children today, in an airstrike while they were apparently playing outside their home in southern Lebanon, are horrific. Children must be #protected Under international humanitarian law. Our thoughts are with their families. As long as the violence continues, more children are at risk. pic.twitter.com/MiSCAEdt1L
— UNICEF Lebanon (@UNICEFLebanon) July 16, 2024
“As long as violence continues, more children are at risk,” the agency said in a message posted on X, stressing that they must be protected by international law.
“There are no more tanks”
As the temperature rises between Israel and Hezbollah, fears of an all-out war that could spark regional unrest are growing.
Israel has said it is preparing for a larger operation in Lebanon, but no decision has been made yet. Hezbollah has said it does not want war with Israel, but is ready if it comes.
Nasrallah reiterated his promise on Wednesday that Hezbollah would continue the fight, insisting that Israel was on its heels after 10 months of bitter war in Gaza.
He downplayed Israel’s ability to wage a full-scale war on its northern front, saying its military capabilities had been degraded in Gaza.
“If your tanks come to Lebanon… you will have no tanks left,” Nasrallah said.
The Hezbollah leader also promised Lebanese people whose homes were demolished by Israeli attacks that their houses would be rebuilt “more beautiful than they were before,” calling them “a symbol of our determination and our resistance.”
News Source : www.aljazeera.com
Gn world
