In the news...

Most of today's news is coming from northern Israel and the fall-out from the most recent skirmish which may not be over:

"Egypt: Eilat attack Hamas' work"

Hamas was responsible for the firing of rockets at Eilat and Aqaba earlier in the week, which left one Jordanian dead, Cairo security officials told the Egyptian news daily al-Youm al-Saba'a on Wednesday.

According to the report, Hamas operatives snuck from Gaza into the Sinai Peninsula to fire the rockets used in the terror attack so that it would appear as if they had been fired by an Egyptian terror group.

"IDF: Journalists were tipped off"

Journalists and photographers were briefed in advance of the intention to ambush IDF troops and were therefore present at the site of Tuesday's deadly clash between Israeli and Lebanese forces, IDF officials charge.

The lethal skirmish ensued after IDF forces performing routine operations in a border-area enclave came under Lebanese fire. The Israeli troops fired back, killing three Lebanese soldiers and a local journalist.

IDF officials raised questions about the presence of journalists and even broadcast trucks at the scene even before the clash ensued, charging this further reinforces suspicions that the incident was a well-planned Lebanese ambush.

So what happens next?

Several articles reveal an evolving "aftermath" of this last skirmish, and there are some interesting thoughts:


"Nasrallah threatens to retaliate against Israel"

Hezbollah leader speaks following exchange of fire between IDF, Lebanese Army, says organization is prepared to help military, takes opportunity to accuse Israel of assassinating al-Hariri

The Hezbollah leader said that his organization notified the Lebanese military during the first moments of the conflict that it is prepared to stand by its side with help in support during a conflict with the IDF.

"From the first moment, the opposition went on high alert in the region, followed all the events, and was in contact with the command headquarters. We notified the Lebanese military: We are prepared, we are with you, and we will help you with everything, if needed. Our people and our equipment stand at your disposal," Nasrallah said.


I will saw honestly: We will not sit with arms crossed, and the Israeli hand outstretched to strike the Lebanese military will be cut off by the opposition."

Of course, it wouldn't be a real conflict without Syria getting involved and indeed, they didn't let us down:

"Assad vows to help Lebanon in face of 'criminal' Israeli aggression"

Following fierce exchanges of fire along Israel-Lebanon border, Syrian president tells Lebanese counterpart Damascus 'will stand by its sister Lebanon,' calls for UN intervention

The official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) quoted Assad as saying that the "Israeli attack proves once again that Israel is constantly working to destabilize security in Lebanon and the region.

"Syria stresses that it is standing by its sister Lebanon in the face of the criminal Israeli aggression and calls on the UN to condemn and stop this aggression," the Syrian leader added.

"Hezbollah warns of violence in wake of border clash"

Lebanon’s Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, speaking after a border clash between Lebanese and Israeli troops, said on Tuesday his group would not stand silent if Israel attacked the Lebanese army in the future.

“I say honestly, that in any place where the Lebanese army will be assaulted and there’s a presence for the resistance, and it is capable, the resistance will not stand silent, or quiet or restrained,” Mr. Nasrallah said.

Because of the tension around the northern border, the story below isn't getting much attention, but it could be significant, particularly if these events are coordinated, which they may well be:


"Israeli shelling kills Gaza militant: medics"

Israeli shellfire killed a Palestinian militant and wounded another in the Gaza Strip early on Wednesday, Palestinian medical officials said.

The shelling, near the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis, followed an upsurge in violence this past week along Israel's border with the Hamas-ruled territory, and followed a clash on Tuesday along the Israeli border with Lebanon.

Palestinian medics said one militant was killed and at least one other wounded in the pre-dawn Israeli strike. Ambulances were still searching the area for more casualties.

And the news wouldn't be complete without something from Iran and today is no different:


"Iran claims to have S-300 surface-to-air missiles"

Fars news agency says acquisition of missiles 'changes Iran's geo-political status in Middle East'

A semiofficial Iranian news agency said Iran has obtained four S-300 surface-to-air missiles despite Russia's refusal to deliver them.

The Fars news agency said Wednesday that Iran has obtained two missiles from Belarus and two others from another unspecified source.

"Such advanced and strategic weaponry changes Iran's geo-political status in the Middle East," according to the report.

Also of interest, coming from Iran is this story:

"Ahmadinejad survives hit attempt"

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was the target of a failed assassination attempt on Wednesday in the city of Hamedan in western Iran.

A handmade grenade struck one of the vehicles in a convoy accompanying the Iranian president. Ahmadinejad was not injured in the attack.

The blast took place in Hamedan as Ahmadinejad was about to address a crowd. He gave his speech as planned and it was broadcast live on state TV

There is a lot going on in the Middle East right now and every day seems to bring more tension and more escalation - not only involving violence, but the rhetoric has been taken up a notch as well.

We'll be watching the region very closely - we could be seeing a significant wave of violence now, with skirmishes taking place in both Gaza and the northern border. It is still difficult to know where any of this will lead, but as usual, full scale war is one blink away.