Saturday, November 18, 2023

Israel adopts policy of ‘active defense’ against Hezbollah, strikes targets deep inside Lebanon

Israel adopts policy of ‘active defense’ against Hezbollah, strikes targets deep inside Lebanon


Skirmishes between Israel and the terror organization Hezbollah on the border with Lebanon continued this weekend, as Israel announced a more aggressive policy in response to Hezbollah’s daily attacks.

Speaking at a situation assessment at the northern border on Saturday, Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said, “We have adopted a policy of active defense – exacting a price against every threat – from the air and from the ground, with great force.”

This new policy was seemingly already in full effect earlier in the day, as Israeli airstrikes targeted a factory in the Lebanese town of Nabatiye, in an area deep inside Lebanese territory that Israel hasn’t struck since the Lebanon war in 2006.

“We exact a price for every threat, hitting imminent threats and Hezbollah infrastructure,” Gallant added.

Until now, Israel has concentrated on returning immediate fire at Hezbollah units that opened fire and striking targets near the border area in southern Lebanon.

Another indication of a more aggressive Israeli policy can be seen in unconfirmed Lebanese reports that Israeli fighter jets carried out mock attacks over the stronghold of Hezbollah in southern Beirut.

Similar reports came from the port city of Sidon, where Israeli jets swept over the city from the sea while producing sonic booms by breaking the sound barrier.

The attacked factory belonged to a Hezbollah-affiliated businessman and was producing aluminum for the Iranian-sponsored “axis of resistance,” Israeli media reported.

The strike followed an attempt in the morning to shoot down an Israeli drone with an anti-aircraft missile by Hezbollah, which was thwarted by the Israeli army.

In direct response to the attack against an Israeli drone, the Israeli Air Force later destroyed an advanced air-to-air missile system belonging to Hezbollah.

Hezbollah meanwhile continued its recent policy of claiming public responsibility for its attacks, publishing five statements before noon on Saturday after 13 such claims on Friday.

The organization again fired anti-tank missiles, mortar grenades, and rockets at Israeli positions and towns throughout the day.

Toward noon, a barrage of some 25 rockets was fired at the areas of Sasa and Shtula in Israel. The IDF also intercepted a suspicious aerial target, possibly a drone, over Lebanese territory.










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