Tension continues at the southern border following the Majdal Shams attack yesterday. An Israeli drone launched two missiles on Sunday at the town of Kfar Kila, while the Israeli army artillery shelled the outskirts of Naqoura.
On the diplomatic side, caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib revealed to Reuters that the United States had asked the Lebanese government to rein in Hezbollah, while Lebanon requested that the US urge Israel to exercise restraint amid recent tensions. In an interview with BBC, Bou Habib also stated that Lebanon condemns targeting civilians anywhere. He denied Hezbollah’s involvement in the strike, noting that since the start of the conflict, they have been targeting military, not civilian sites.
“I don’t think they carried out this strike. It could have been done by other organizations, an Israeli mistake, or even an error by Hezbollah. I don’t know. We need an international investigation to find out the truth,” he added.
In parallel, Reuters cited a security source stating Hezbollah is on high alert and has evacuated some key sites in eastern and southern Lebanon in anticipation of any Israeli escalation.
On the Israeli side, the Israeli minister Ben Gvir demanded “igniting and burning Beirut.” However, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that a “ceasefire in Gaza would be an opportunity to bring lasting calm to the Blue Line between Israel and Lebanon.”
The Israeli army said on Sunday morning that its aircraft carried out attacks overnight on Hezbollah, following a rocket attack on a football ground on Saturday afternoon in a Druze village in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, that killed 12 people, including children.
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Israel blamed Hezbollah and has vowed to retaliate while the latter denied responsibility.
The Israeli army’s spokesman, Avichay Adraee, said on his X account that “during the past night, the Defense Forces carried out raids on a series of Hezbollah targets throughout Lebanon. Among the targets hit in the depths and south of Lebanon were weapons depots and terrorist infrastructure in the areas of Shabriha, Burj al-Shamali, the Bekaa Valley, Kfar Kila, Rab al-Thalathin, Khiam, and Tayr Harfa.”
#عاجل في عمق وجنوب لبنان وبتزامن في سبع مناطق مختلفة؛ جيش الدفاع أغار خلال ساعات الليلة الماضية على لبنان
🟡شنت طائرات حربية خلال ساعات الليلة الماضية غارات على سلسلة أهداف لحزب الله في أنحاء لبنان.
🟡من بين الأهداف تم تم استهدافها في عمق وجنوب لبنان مخازن أسلحة وبنى إرهابية في… pic.twitter.com/k7TagH5w4G
— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) July 28, 2024
An Israeli drone has bombed a house on the outskirts of the town of Tareya in the Baalbeck district with two rockets early on Sunday morning, causing only material damage.
At dawn, several consecutive airstrikes have targeted the outskirts of the towns of Al-Abbasiya, Tayr Debba, and Toura in the Tyre district, hitting an open area and causing no injuries. An airstrike also hit a house in the town of Burj al-Shamali, resulting in injuries and casualties among residents, as well as significant damage to property, infrastructure, and surrounding homes. Another airstrike targeted the town of Tayr Harfa, causing severe damage to property and crops.
In recent reactions to the attack, the Israeli Prime Minister stated on Saturday on the ministry’s X account that “he has been holding continuous security consultations since he was updated about the disaster,” adding: “I have directed that our return to Israel be brought forward. As soon as I arrive, I will immediately convene the Security Cabinet.”
He has pointed out that “the State of Israel will not let this pass in silence. We will not overlook this.”
Immediately upon learning of the disaster in Majdal Shams, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed that his return to Israel be brought forward as quickly as possible.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) July 27, 2024
Additionally, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon and UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander, in a joint Statement on Sunday, urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to put a stop to the ongoing intensified exchanges of fire. “It could ignite a wider conflagration that would engulf the entire region in a catastrophe beyond belief.”
They pointed out that UNIFIL and UNSCOL are in contact with both Lebanon and Israel.
They deplored “the death of civilians – young children and teenagers – in Majdal Shams. Civilians must be protected at all times.”
For his part, the Iranian Foreign Minister warned Israel against any “adventure” in Lebanon following the Majdal Shams attack.
