Reports in Lebanon: 'IDF soldiers fell into Hezbollah trap'
Media outlets claim detonation of two bombs planted by Shiite group led to injury of four Israeli soldiers near border Wednesday
Media outlets affiliated with Hezbollah claim the four IDF soldiers who were injured in an explosion near the border on Wednesday fell into a trap set up by the Lebanese Shiite movement.
Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon said the IDF force inadvertently activated a mine, but according to reports in Lebanon, two explosive devices planted by Hezbollah were activated at the site. "Only the resistance is capable of setting such a trap and building bombs that explode on the Israelis," one newspaper said.
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Ibrahim al-Amin, editor-in-chief of Al-Akhbar, hinted in his article that Hezbollah was behind the blast that injured the Israeli soldiers. According to him, the first bomb, which was connected to four smaller bombs that were laden with metal balls, went off at 4 am. The second device exploded 20 seconds later, he said.
The soldiers sustained light to moderate wounds, mainly from shrapnel and the shockwave from the explosion. The Lebanese Army said that in a "violation of Lebanese sovereignty," an Israeli infantry patrol crossed the UN-designated "blue line" between the two countries and moved 400 meters (437 yards) inside Lebanese territory.
"During the infiltration, an explosion occurred which led to a number of (Israeli soldiers) being wounded," the Lebanese military said, adding it was investigating the circumstances of the blast in coordination with UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon.
Commenting on the incident, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would "continue to act responsibly" to defend its borders.
In the Al-Akhbar article, al-Amin said "someone was expecting the (IDF) force," adding that the "enemy faces a difficult question: How did Hezbollah know about it?"
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The article in Al-Akhbar does not necessarily present an accurate depiction of Wednesday's incident. Rather, it may be part of Hezbollah's attempt to rehabilitate its status in Lebanon and the Arab world in general following the harsh criticism over its involvement in the Syrian civil war.
According to reports, more than 100 Hezbollah terrorists have been killed and hundreds more were wounded in battles against rebels trying to overthrow Syrian President Bashar Assad. Hezbollah's involvement in Syria contributed to the European Union's decision to designate its armed wing as a terror organization. The Shiite movement is trying to show the Arab world that the fight against Israel remains its top priority.
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