Israeli soldiers and IDF Artillery at a staging area in Southern Israel, near the border with neighbouring Palestinian Gaza Strip on November 13, 2019. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90
On August 4 noon, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) escalated their artillery strikes on Lebanon in response to the recent rocket attack on northern Israel.
Earlier, three rockets were launched from South Lebanon at Israel. One of the rockets fell short inside Lebanon, while the remaining two landed in an empty area near the settlement of Kiryat Shmona. No casualties were reported.
According to Lebanese sources, the IDF’s artillery strikes targeted the surroundings of Armaz hill as well the towns of Khraibeh, Kfarchouba, Chebaa and Habbariyeh. The shelling caused several fires. However, there were casualties.
IDF publishes footage of artillery strikes in southern Lebanon pic.twitter.com/HipdFAOVnh
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) August 4, 2021
توقف القصف المعادي على مرتفعات #كفرشوبا و #الهبارية و “الخريبة” شرق #ابل_السقي و #الخيام التي ادت إلى اشتعال حرائق كبير في المنطقة الحرجية pic.twitter.com/Y1FJWpj1lA
— علي شعيب || Ali Shoeib 🇱🇧 (@alishoeib1970) August 4, 2021
حرائق كبيرة في كروم الزيتون و السنديان اشعلتها القذائف الإسرائيلية المعادية في إطار راشيا الفخار ومناشدة من أجل إطفائها pic.twitter.com/KXxFylTbCe
— علي شعيب || Ali Shoeib 🇱🇧 (@alishoeib1970) August 4, 2021
هكذا أحرق العدو بقذائفه أشجار السنديان في #راشيا_الفخار pic.twitter.com/D7Vh1f6EoT
— علي شعيب || Ali Shoeib 🇱🇧 (@alishoeib1970) August 4, 2021
الحرائق لا زالت مندلعة في مستعمرة
“كفر جلعادي” جراء سقوط صاروخ مجهول على المنطقة قبل ظهر اليوم . pic.twitter.com/A8Bmk45ywA— علي شعيب || Ali Shoeib 🇱🇧 (@alishoeib1970) August 4, 2021
مرابض العدو في الجولان المحتل تواصل استهداف اخراج منطقة الخريبة بين آبل السقي وراشيا الفخار بقذائف المدفعية عيار 155 ملم وتشعل حرائق كبيرة pic.twitter.com/8T7iuo3LNw
— علي شعيب || Ali Shoeib 🇱🇧 (@alishoeib1970) August 4, 2021
The IDF held the Lebanese government responsible for the attack, despite reports saying that the rockets were launched by Palestinian gunmen.
“Not only is rocket fire from Lebanon at Israeli civilians an act of terrorism, it also is indicative of the Lebanese government’s lack of governance of terrorist organizations operating in Lebanon,” the IDF said on Twitter. “The Lebanese government is responsible for all attacks from Lebanon.”
Hezbollah is yet to comment on the recent development in South Lebanon, its heartland. While the Lebanese group was not apparently behind the last rocket attack, it may respond to the IDF’s artillery strikes.
By escalating its artillery strikes on South Lebanon, the IDF is hoping to restore deterrence. At least five rocket attacks were launched from Lebanon at Israel in the last few months.
