Lebanese army fires at Israel for 1st time following soldier’s death
Lebanese army members stand in Houla near the Lebanese-Israeli border, southern Lebanon, July 4, 2023. (Reuters/Aziz Taher)
The Lebanese army announced it has returned fire at Israeli forces after one of its soldiers was killed in an Israeli airstrike, marking the first time the Lebanese military has been directly involved in clashes with Israel.
This development represents a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, with the Lebanese army having previously declared its neutrality in the fighting.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), the Lebanese army said, “The army returned fire at the sources of fire,” after Israeli forces targeted an army installation in the Lebanese border village of Bint Jbeil.
First Lebanese army involvement in fighting
Until now, Hezbollah has been the primary force engaging with Israel, and the Lebanese army has maintained a stance of non-involvement. The military denied claims that it had withdrawn its forces from the border region in anticipation of an Israeli ground invasion into southern Lebanon.
The Lebanese state has repeatedly called for an end to the fighting between Hezbollah and Israel, stating that it does not seek further conflict. Officials have emphasized that the recent exchange of fire between the Lebanese army and Israeli forces is not expected to escalate into prolonged hostilities.
Context of conflict
The conflict between Hezbollah and Israel has intensified in recent weeks, with cross-border exchanges of fire becoming more frequent. It remains unclear if this incident will lead to broader military involvement from the Lebanese army in the ongoing hostilities.
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