Israel Strikes Lebanon After Rocket Fire

Facts

• Only a day after Israel ended its largest military operation in the West Bank in two decades, rockets were fired from southern Lebanon toward Israel, leading the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to shell Lebanon in "the area from which the launch was carried out."¹
• One of the rockets fell in Lebanese territory, while the other fell near the town of Ghajar in a contested region of the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and that Lebanon also claims as its own territory.²
• The Israeli military reportedly launched at least 15 missiles into the Lebanese village of Kafr Shuba, reportedly causing neither casualties nor property damage. No special instructions for civilians on the Israeli home front have been issued, according to the IDF.³
• No militant groups have claimed responsibility for the rocket fire so far. While not commenting on this incident, the powerful Iranian-backed political party and armed group Hezbollah condemned earlier on Thursday the "serious measures" recently taken by Israeli forces in Ghajar.⁴
• Tensions on the border between Lebanon and Israel have been heightened in recent months after a barrage of missiles was fired into Israel in April, leading to retaliatory Israeli strikes. The IDF blamed the Palestinian militant group Hamas for that rocket fire.⁵
• More recently, tensions along the border have continued, with Hezbollah, which has a strong presence in south Lebanon and has fought multiple wars with Israel, accusing Israel of erecting a wire fence and building a cement wall near Ghajar. Israel has also accused Hezbollah of setting up tents on the Israeli side of the border.³

Sources: ¹Reuters, ²ABC News, ³The National, ⁴BBC News, and ⁵Al Jazeera.

Narratives

• Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by The Times of Israel. Israel doesn't want to see a military escalation along its northern border, but it's ready to respond to terrorist threats against Israeli civilians. Hezbollah continues to act provocatively at the border and should keep in mind that another war with Israel would be devastating for Lebanon.
• Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by Middle East Eye. The rocket fire from Lebanon cannot be separated from Israel's massive assault on Jenin earlier this week. It's Israel that continues to provoke the situation with its constant attacks on Palestinians. There will only be peace and security when Israel ends its occupation.

Predictions