IDF warns: Lebanon may pay price
Following escalation of violence along northern border, senior IDF official says ‘Lebanon has no one to hide behind anymore’
Lebanon must act fast, or it may the price, a senior IDF officer told Ynet Friday after Hizbullah fired at least 12 mortar shells at army outposts in the Mount Dov area, on the northern border.
On Thursday, an explosion shook the Mount Dov area, just one day after a rocket attack badly damaged a bakery in the northern town of Shlomi. No injuries were reported.
IDF officials told Ynet that two rockets landed in the area, but IDF forces in the area were unable to identify the source of the rockets, and therefore did not return fire.
No damage was reported to IDF positions in the area.
“The incident in Shlomi, the firing of missiles in Mount Dov and the mortar shell firing at IDF outposts – all emanated from areas under Hizbullah control and they all emanated from areas under Lebanese sovereignty,” the officer said.
“Lebanon has no one to hide behind anymore. Lebanon holds the territory, responsibility, and authority, and Lebanon may pay the price. I hope that during our operation Friday we have made it clear that we are saying ‘we will respond whenever it suits us and whenever we want to. If during the past two days we preferred to act with restraint – we do not always restrain ourselves.”
No injuries were reported in the mortar attacks.
Hizbullah claimed responsibility for the barrage, saying it was fired in response to Israeli attacks on Lebanese targets.
In response to the mortar strike, IDF fighter jets, helicopters, and tanks bombarded Hizbullah positions in Lebanon.
'Terror groups do not set agenda'
According to Lebanese media sources, the IDF fired several missiles at Hizbullah targets near Mount Dov. The sources said civilian targets were also fired at, including two Lebanese towns, but no injuries were reported.
The timing and purpose of the attacks remain irrelevant to the IDF at this stage.
“What happened in Shlomi on Independence Day is pure terror,” the officer said. “The other side’s interests, whatever they may be, are illegitimate.”
He said Israel’s political interests also have an affect on the IDF’S response to the escalation of violence in the northern border.
“We are an army of a country, and when it is in the country’s interest to attack - we attack,” the officer said.
“We do not let a terror organization set the agenda for us.”
Despite the recent events, Israelis flocked to the north during the holiday.
