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Update: The Palestinian Islamic Jihad group based in the Gaza Strip claimed responsibility for infiltrating Israel from the border with Lebanon. Six Israeli servicemen were wounded.
On October 9, the Israeli Defence Forces reported that an armed group crossed the Israeli northern border from the territory of Lebanon.
According to the IDF, the group included four armed militants. Now the units of the Israeli army are engaged in patrolling the area. According to the authorities, some of those who have entered the country can already be eliminated by the military.
Footage from the northern Israeli border confirmed shooting in the area.
Earlier an air alert was declared in the north of Israel. Local residents, who did not evacuate from the northern regions, were ordered to hide in their homes.
The Israeli military is moving tanks and military equipment to the north of the country. Self-propelled artillery installations have been deployed on the border with Lebanon.
On October 8, Hezbollah officially joined the attack by Palestinian armed factions against Israel by launching strikes from southern Lebanon. According to the official statement, Hezbollah attacked three sites of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in the occupied Shebaa Farms with artillery and guided missiles. LINK
The leadership of Hezbollah reportedly gave guarantees to the Lebanese authorities that it would not attack Israeli territory first. That is, Hezbollah will join the hostilities only if Israel attacks the territory of Lebanon. Prior to that, Hezbollah promised to come to the aid of Hamas and open the second front if Israel launches a ground military operation in the Gaza Strip.
However, small-scaled provocations on the Israeli border are likely to continue. Two days ago, Israeli soldiers opened fire toward demonstrators carrying Hezbollah flags on the Lebanese side of its northern border.
It is clear that the Israeli command is likely to launch an invasion of the Gaza Strip in the coming days, and then Hezbollah may intervene in the conflict, which will significantly distract the Israeli army. The IDF may also escalate against Lebanon in order to maintain deterrence against Hezbollah. Thus, the risk of the full-blown confrontation on Israel’s northern front remains high.
