In a tragic turn of events, a Lebanese soldier has lost his life in an Israeli shelling on a military post near the southern border. This marks the first casualty for Lebanon’s armed forces since the cross-border hostilities with Israel began in October. The attack took place on Oweida hill, leaving three other soldiers injured, according to a statement from the Lebanese army on Tuesday.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza, which started on October 7, has sparked a series of back-and-forth exchanges across the border between Israel and armed groups in southern Lebanon, including the powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah. These exchanges have claimed more than 100 lives, with approximately 80 of them being Hezbollah fighters.
Since the collapse of a truce between Hamas and Israel last Friday, Israeli forces and Hezbollah have been engaging in daily fire exchanges across the Israel-Lebanon border. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for attacking four Israeli positions along the border, while Israel reported that several missiles from southern Lebanon fell in vacant areas. In response, Israeli forces carried out shelling and air raids in the area of southern Lebanon near the border, as reported by Lebanon’s National News Agency.
Despite the constant tit-for-tat reprisals, both Israel and Hezbollah have shown restraint to avoid a large-scale war. Lebanon’s army has remained uninvolved in the fighting, focusing on maintaining stability within the country. However, tensions remain high, and a UN peacekeeping force stationed in southern Lebanon reported an incident in late November where its forces came under fire from Israeli forces, labeling it as “deeply troubling.”
The escalating situation has led tens of thousands of people in communities near the borders of both countries to evacuate their homes out of fear of being caught in the middle of a potential escalation. The international community is closely monitoring the developments, urging all parties to exercise restraint and seek diplomatic solutions to de-escalate the situation.
In conclusion, the death of a Lebanese soldier in Israeli shelling near the southern border highlights the ongoing tensions between Israel and armed groups in southern Lebanon. While efforts to avoid a large-scale war have been made, the situation remains fragile, and the international community is calling for a peaceful resolution to prevent further loss of life and destruction.
