Sunday morning on Middle East passed under the sign massive Hezbollah shelling of Israel. From the territory Lebanon fired drones and 320 Katyusha rockets, which, according to the fundamentalist group, have been 11 goals. However, Tel Aviv denies this and maintains that air defense worked as it should. No one died.
Hezbollah He said that the reason for the raid was revenge for the murder of Fuad Shukar – a high-ranking commander of the militants who was killed in July in an Israeli attack. This, however, was revenge, for attack on the Golan Heightswhen 12 Israeli children were killed.
In response to the rocket fire, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government took to the air 100 planes that bombed the Lebanese area, in order – as Israel argues – thwarting the shelling on a larger scale. Beirut confirmed the deaths of three people.
Israel. Hezbollah Attack. Netanyahu: It's Not Over
Hezbollah representative reported that his group delayed Sunday's retaliatory strike anywayto give a chance to finalize the ongoing talks on ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, and also with “other political reasons”He also said the militants “calibrated the attack in such a way that avoid triggering a full-scale war” and they are not planning any further attacks, Reuters reports.
The head of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that his country also does not seek to escalate the war for the entire region, but he stressed that the situation will not remain without an answer. Additional emotions were fueled by the statement of the head of government himself, who stated directly that the bombing “it's not over.”
– We are determined to do everything in our power to defend our country, he said. Benjamin Netanyahu after the announcement state of emergency for 48 hours. He also added: – Whoever harms us, we will harm him.
The leader of the militants threatened on Sunday evening that although this time professional weapons were not used guided missilesthey can be used in the near future.
Reuters stressed that Sunday's exchange of fire between Israel and Hezbollah was “one of the largest incidents of this type during the 10-month conflict” in the Gaza Strip.
Attack on Israel. World reacts. “Joe Biden monitors events”
Mutual attacks caused suspension of flights both in Israel and Lebanon. The capital's Ben Gurion Airport ceased all operations on Sunday morning for approximately 90 minutes. In Beyurt too some flights to and from have been cancelled largest city in the country.
– I want to get out of here at all costs. – Rana Saade, a Lebanese woman living in the US, told Reuters.
Despite the declarations of Hezbollah and the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the tense situation also caused Global fears of war escalation throughout the Middle East. The White House said president Joe Biden follows events on a regular basis.
– We will be continue to support the law Israel for self-defense and we will continue to work for regional stability, said National Security Council Deputy Spokesman Sean Savett.
Peacekeeping forces UN in Lebanon, as well as the office of the UN Special Coordinator in that country. appealed to all parties to cease fire. The United Nations also called the developments “disturbing.”
Egypt while one of the mediators in the ceasefire talks in the Gaza Strip warned against the danger of opening a new front war, this time with Lebanon.