Israel Prepares For War In Lebanon Following Deadly Hezbollah Attack
Fears of a wider war were piqued as Turkey vows to respond should Israel invade Lebanon.
An attack by Hezbollah on June 27 yielded at least 12 deaths, mostly children, in Majdal Shams, a village sitting next to Israel’s border with Lebanon and the Golan Heights. Today, Israel’s defense minister Yoav Gallant visited the playground and vowed that Israel will respond to the terrorist group lodged in Lebanon that is supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Calling it a “terrible tragedy,” Gallant said that Hezbollah “will pay the price.” Many of the stricken children belong to Israel’s Druze community.
On Twitter, Gallant wrote: In a Twitter post, Gallant wrote: "We mourn the innocent boys and girls killed in Majdal Shams. There are 150,000 Druze in Israel, as well as millions of jews and Arab Israelis. We live side by side and all suffer from Hezbollah's terror. We will ensure Hezbollah, the proxy of Iran, pays a price for this loss." Forty persons were wounded in the surprise missile attack.
The Druze of Israel and Lebanon profess a religion that incorporates aspects of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Long persecuted by neighboring Muslims in Lebanon, Druze as a part of Israeli society and many serve in the Israeli Defense Forces. Several Druze soldiers were notable in responding to the October 7 terror attack on Israel by Hamas. Hezbollah joined with Hamas in the current war on Oct. 8, firing drones, missiles and rockets into Israel almost every day.
Hours after the tragedy in Majdal Shams, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi met with the mayor of the town and Druze leader Shaykh Mowafa1 Tarif. He said that the IDF is preparing for “the next stage of fighting in the north.” Halevi leveled an accusation against Hezbollah while examining remnants of the rocket fired by the terrorists: “This is a Hezbollah rocket. And whoever launches such a rocket into a built-up area wants to kill civilians, wants to kill children.” Hagari told reporters, “Hezbollah has been lying and denying responsibility for the incident. Our intelligence is clear: Hezbollah is responsible for the murder of innocent children.”
Halevi offered reassurances to residents of northern Israel, who have endured displacement from their homes over the last 10 months amidst nearly daily attacks by Hezbollah. “We are greatly increasing our readiness for the next stage of fighting in the north. We are simultaneously operating in the Gaza Strip. We know how to strike even very far from the State of Israel.”
“There will be more challenges, and we will raise our readiness. When required, we will act strongly. Our duty is to return the residents of the north safely to their homes, in the entire north, the Galilee and the Golan Heights, a full commitment. It is a difficult day; we will work for better days,” he added.
Halevi said that the IDF knows exactly from whence the Falaq 1 rocket, bearing a 117-pound warhead was launched in an area north of the Shebaa, a village in the south of Lebanon, according to the IDF. IDF Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said on July 27 that Iran manufactured the rocket and that Hezbollah is the only Iranian proxy that possesses it.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cut short his official visit to the United States, taking a return flight after being advised of the attack. According to his office, Netanyahu will convene an emergency conference of his Security Cabinet upon his return.
Names of Hezbollah rocket attack victims
Alma Ayman Fakher Eldin, 11
Milad Muadad Alsha’ar, 10
Vinees Adham Alsafadi, 11
Iseel Nasha’at Ayoub, 12
Yazan Nayeif Abu Saleh, 12
Johnny Wadeea Ibrahim, 13
Ameer Rabeea Abu Saleh, 16
Naji Taher Alhalabi, 11
Fajer Laith Abu Saleh, 16
Hazem Akram Abu Saleh, 15
Nathem Fakher Saeb, 16
Israeli authorities are searching for 10-year-old Jibara Ibrahim, a Druze boy who is believed to have been at the soccer field that Hezbollah struck. He has not been found at hospitals and the surrounding area. .
The IDF is investigating why Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system did not apparently engage the deadly missile. Reportedly, the terrain and low altitude trajectory of the rocket’s flight path are to blame for lack of interception. However, the alert system did not malfunction: sirens sounded for 20 seconds before the rocket impact.
In response to Israel’s readiness, Hezbollah has evacuated key places in eastern Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon. The Lebanese government has asked the Biden administration to restrain an Israeli response. U.S. diplomats in turn have asked Lebanon to urge restraint on Hezbollah’s part.
U.S. intelligence confirms that it was indeed Hezbollah that fired the deadly missile at Majdal Shams, according to the IDF. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on July 28 evidence pointed to Hezbollah being responsible for the attack. “Every indication is that indeed the rocket was from Hezbollah. We stand by Israel’s right to defend its citizens from terror attacks,” Blinken said in Japan. The White House National Security Council said that Washington “will continue to support efforts to end these terrible attacks along the Blue Line, which must be a top priority. Our support for Israel’s security is iron-clad and unwavering against all Iranian-backed terrorist groups, including Lebanese Hezbollah.”
The Biden administration is concerned that the attack could lead to full blown war between Israel and Hezbollah, say media reports. There are also reports that Turkey, a NATO country, has vowed to invade Israel if Lebanon is invaded.