BICOM

Israeli forces yesterday responded to a believed border infiltration in the Har Dov area in Northern Israel. According to reports, troops opened fire on men who crossed the UN-recognised “Blue Line” from Lebanon into Israeli territory.

The Lebanese army reported that one of its soldiers was injured by gunfire. Some reports have suggested that a Lebanese patrol might have unwittingly crossed into Israel over the unmarked border. The Har Dov /Sheba Farms region is a three-way border between Israel, Syria and Lebanon.

In related news yesterday, according to reports, “hundreds” of ISIS and al-Nusra Front members attacked two Hezbollah posts on the Lebanon-Syria border near the town of Brital, a Lebanese town near the Hezbollah stronghold of Baalbek.

Lebanon’s Daily Star reported that 14 of the Syrian-based militants were killed. Reports are unclear, with some suggesting that the ISIS and al-Nusra were trying to take control of Brital, while Hezbollah-controlled Al-Manar TV claims that Hezbollah remains in full control of the area. This morning Hezbollah announced the names of four of its members killed in the clash.

Syrian opposition forces have been targeting Hezbollah since the Lebanese Shiite group sent forces to bolster Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Since 2012, Hezbollah has been operating inside Syria against opposition forces. The town of Brital has come under fire from Syrian opposition forces before.

There remains concern that ISIS-Hezbollah clashes inside Lebanon could ultimately destabilise the country.