Conflicts & War

Israel fears Lebanon’s instability will lead to new conflict with Hezbollah

By Sara Gomez Armas

Shebaa, Golan Heights, Aug 17 (EFE).- Tensions are rising along the Lebanese border with Israel, fueled by the ongoing deep political and economic crisis in the Arab country.

The Jewish nation fears the current situation could lead to another war with Iran-backed Shiite group Hezbollah, which controls southern Lebanon, an area where Palestinian factions are gaining strength, too.

“Hezbollah continues to entrench itself and build its force build-up,” Amnon Shefler, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces, tells Efe in Shebaa Farms, a historically disputed area along the Israel-occupied Golan Heights, overlooking south Lebanon and the Syrian border.

“Mainly, this is by Radwan, a commando elite force that is preparing to infiltrate into Israel with the target of killing Israeli civilians,” he adds.

With the Lebanese state on the brink of collapse, the Israeli army has warned that Hezbollah is gaining power and influence on the southern border with Israel.

The IDF spokesman says Hezbollah was stockpiling a “massive” arsenal of rockets.

“Hezbollah has around 140,000 that are aimed from Lebanon to Israel, aimed at civilians,” he adds.

Hezbollah launched an estimated 10,000 rocket during the 34-day war with Israel in 2006.

On August 6 of this year, Hezbollah launched 19 rockets, six of which fell near towns in the northern part of Israel where some 220,000 Israeli citizens reside.

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