Conflict at the Border Reignites with Hezbollah Attacks on Troops, Israeli Bombardment in the South

Following a brief period of peace due to a week-long ceasefire in Gaza, border tensions have reignited. The respite temporarily ceased the routine rocket launches, artillery bombardments, and air raids between Hezbollah and Israel in south Lebanon.

Lebanon and Hezbollah, while not formal signatories to the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, experienced a relative peace in the south Lebanon border area during the Gaza truce.

However, as conflict resumed in Gaza, Hezbollah launched an assault on Israeli soldiers near Jal al-Alam and targeted the Manara settlement with anti-tank missiles.

In retaliation, Israel conducted artillery strikes in the al-Labbouneh, Hamoul, and Rwaisat regions near Naqoura in Lebanon, and targeted the al-Qawzah forests with a guided missile.

This artillery response came after an Israeli interception missile detonated over al-Khiam town, with the Israeli military confirming the interception of a ‘suspicious aerial target’ from Lebanon.

The brief lull in violence was marred by sporadic Israeli transgressions and ongoing surveillance by Israeli drones.

Amidst this escalating tension, Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati attended the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, overshadowed by the renewed Gaza conflict.

At the summit, global leaders discussed the war, with Iranian delegates protesting Israeli participation and leaving the talks. Palestinian climate change specialist Hadeel Ikhmais questioned the purpose of negotiations amidst what she termed a ‘genocide.’

Since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7, the Lebanon-Israel frontier has witnessed escalating hostilities, predominantly involving Israel and Hezbollah, but also Palestinian factions. This has heightened concerns over a potential wider conflict.

Casualties in Lebanon include 109 fatalities, comprising at least 77 Hezbollah combatants and 14 civilians, with over 55,000 people displaced from their homes.

On the Israeli side, the conflict has resulted in the deaths of six soldiers and three civilians.

Following the announcement of the truce last week, Lebanese residents who had evacuated their homes near the border began cautiously returning.