(CNN) – The Israeli military confirmed Thursday that its country will “respond with deeds, not words,” to any escalation by Lebanese Hezbollah on its northern border.
The Israeli military has engaged in a firefight with Hezbollah fighters in recent weeks, and on Thursday the army said it struck several Hezbollah targets in Lebanon in response to the firing at Israel.
Hezbollah released a statement on Thursday saying it had “bombed an Israeli military barracks in the Shebaa Farms area with two drones,” claiming it had carried out “very direct attacks.”
Shebaa Farms is a disputed area along the Israeli-Lebanese border.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is expected to give a speech on the war in Gaza on Friday.
In response to a question about the possibility of escalation in light of Nasrallah’s speech, Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari confirmed that his country “will respond with action”, indicating that it is “fully prepared”.
It is unclear what Nasrallah might announce in Friday’s speech, but Hezbollah-owned media has supported Hamas since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
Observers will analyze the discourse for signs that the conflict is entering a new phase.
In anticipation of the speech, White House spokesman John Kirby said Thursday: “Our message to him or anyone else who is thinking about expanding this conflict: You shouldn’t do it.”
Hezbollah is considered a regional force that could turn the war between Israel and Hamas into a regional conflict. It has a more advanced arsenal than Hamas and its growing participation in the war could lead to a tightening of the noose on Iran’s paramilitary partners in the region. Iraq and Yemen.
(tagToTranslate)Middle East