Hezbollah issues threats of retaliatory attacks against Israel in Lebanon.
Nasrallah made threats toward Cyprus, warning them against allowing Israel's military to utilize their airports and bases in the event of a war. He stated, "Permitting Cypriot airports and bases for the Israeli adversary to assault Lebanon implies the Cyprus government is participating in the conflict." This comment was made during a live broadcast.
Nasrallah further warned that Hezbollah had only deployed a portion of its weaponry thus far in the clashes with Israel. "We have received new weaponry," he said without disclosing details.
Border tensions between Israel and Lebanon have been on the rise. On a Wednesday, the Israeli army reported that around "15 shells" were fired from Lebanon in the direction of Kiryat Shmona, a city in northern Israel. Some of these were intercepted by the air defense system, but the rest were met with retaliatory artillery fire.
The Israeli military had allegedly targeted Hezbollah militia positions in southern Lebanon the night prior to Wednesday. Lebanese media outlets reported on numerous Israeli attacks on various locations in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah confirmed that four of their members were killed in these attacks. In retaliation, they fired "several Katyusha rockets and artillery shells" at a base in Kiryat Shmona.
On a Tuesday, the Israeli military leadership decided on a potential deployment plan for an offensive in Lebanon. Senior military officials approved and authorized this offensive during a joint assessment at the Northern Command. The preparedness of the troops would be strengthened. Israel's Defense Minister, Katz, threatened Hezbollah with their destruction in a "full-scale war."
Since the ongoing conflict between Israel and the radical Islamic Hamas surpassed eight months, Hezbollah, who are financially backed by Iran and allied with Hamas, have been launching rockets and drones at Israel. As a result, tens of thousands of people have evacuated their homes. Israel responds to these attacks with strikes on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon.
In the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army and Hamas continued their battles on a Wednesday. Witnesses and the Hamas Civil Defense reported Israeli air raids in the western region of Rafah, a city in the southern Palestinian territories. According to reports from emergency services, at least seven people were killed in drone attacks and shelling. The militant Islamic Jihad claimed that their fighters had engaged in combat with the Israeli army in the western part of Rafah.
Fights also took place in the central part of the Gaza Strip at night, with witnesses reporting artillery fire and gunfire in the Shejaiya neighborhood of Gaza City.
The UN criticized Israel's handling of the war in the Gaza Strip for the sixth consecutive time. A report published on a Wednesday by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk accused Israel of "indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks" in at least six incidents during the initial two months of the war. The use of "heavy bombs" in densely populated regions may possibly breach international law.
The conflict in Gaza started when Hamas launched a massive offensive on Israel on October 7th. According to Israeli figures, 1194 people were killed, and another 251 were taken captive as prisoners in the Gaza Strip.
In response to these attacks, Israel has been actively engaging in military operations in the Gaza Strip since October. Based on reports from the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry, over 37,390 people have reportedly been killed to date, although these statistics cannot be independently verified.
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- The EU has expressed concern over the escalating tensions between Israel and Lebanon, particularly the possibility of retaliatory attacks from Hezbollah in South Lebanon.
- During a television interview, Hassan Nasrallah criticized the potential use of Cyprus' airports and bases by the Israeli military, viewing it as participation in the ongoing conflict.
- Kiryat Shmona, a city in northern Israel, has been a target of repeated attacks from Hezbollah, with several Katyusha rockets and artillery shells being fired toward the city.
- In response to allegations of Israeli attacks on Hezbollah militia positions in southern Lebanon, Lebanese media outlets reported an offensive plan being considered by the Israeli military leadership in Kiryat Shmona.
- The Iran-backed Hezbollah has continued to launch rockets and drones at Israel from the Gaza Strip, adding to the conflict between the two neighboring countries.
- Military tensions between Israel and Lebanon have stretched back to the possible deployment of troops for an offensive in Lebanon, as indicated by senior Israeli military officials in a joint assessment at the Northern Command.
- In the wake of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which has surpassed eight months, attacks on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon have triggered retaliatory strikes from the Israeli military.
- The Gaza Strip has become a battleground, with the Israeli army and Hamas engaging in fierce battles in cities like Rafah, resulting in numerous casualties and damage.
- Hezbollah's decision to step up attacks against Israel has drawn condemnation from the international community, with the UN accusing Israel of indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks in certain incidents during the conflict.
- Iran has been accused of providing financial and logistical support to both Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon, further complicating regional diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the ongoing conflict.
