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Israel attacks targets in southern Lebanon

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IAF combat planes attacked targets in southern Lebanon last night in retaliation for the three rockets that were fired into northern Israel yesterday. This was the first IAF airstrikes in southern Lebanon since 2014.

The IDF Spokesperson’s Office issued a statement saying that the planes attacked the areas from which the rockets had been fired on Israel, striking at the terrorist infrastructure.

Following the rocket attack, the IDF initially responded with 100 rounds of artillery fire at the area from which the rockets had been fired – considerably more than the response to rockets a few weeks back.

In a statement the IDF said it views the State of Lebanon as responsible for all actions originating in its territory and warns against further attempts to harm Israeli civilians and Israel’s sovereignty – it does not mention Hezbollah.

This was the fifth rocket attack since the Gaza conflict in May. In just the last two weeks, two rockets were fired at the Galilee, one was intercepted and the other landed in the sea.

There is speculation in Israel about whether Hezbollah is aware or is instructing these attacks, with some analysts claiming no rockets fly in Lebanon without Hezbollah’s approval & there is no Palestinian group that is brave enough to decide to fire on its own.

Another explanation is that Iran is signalling to anyone planning to attack them for the drone attack on a ship last week that they have the capacity to escalate and retaliate from within Lebanon.

The increasing number of attacks on the northern border points to groups attempting to turn the area into an active confrontation line once again.

Israel currently has several active fronts: a nuclear-threshold Iran, a maritime front with Iran, the Iranian entrenchment in Syria, Hamas/PIJ in Gaza, and rouge terrorist groups in the West Bank.

Yossi Kuperwasser argues there are three factors contributing to Iran’s belligerence: 1) mounting stress within Iran over the US sanctions; 2) any reaction to its decision to escalate tensions will be limited because none of Iran’s adversaries have an interest in escalating tensions;

And 3) Iran is growing in confidence of its own readiness for engaging in low-intensity & asymmetrical warfare against the US and Israel. The Iranians have spent years building the military forces needed for that kind of warfare.

He warns that the Iranians’ brazenness is only likely to increase unless the West changes its reaction and may even move Iran closer to acquiring the capability to build its first nuclear bomb.