Israel Increases Movement along Border as Hizbullah Ups Security Measures

Israel and Hizbullah boosted security measures on Wednesday as tension soared along Lebanon's southern border tens days after an Israeli airstrike against a Hizbullah convoy, which killed six fighters.

The state-run National News Agency reported that Israeli warplanes have been flying over the eastern sector since 2:00 am. The drones flew over Arqoub, Hasbaya, Rashaya and Mount Hermon (Jabal al-Sheikh) heights.

Media reports said later on Wednesday that Israeli forces began searching for tunnels along the northern border after increasing fears that Hizbullah has been digging tunnels.

The Jerusalem Post reported that no tunnels have been located yet, pointing out that it is not the first time that the army has launched underground searches.

NNA also said that there was an unprecedented movement for Israeli armors along the border with Lebanon near the Wazzani Hills, the Shebaa heights and the occupied Kfarshouba.

The January 18 raid on the Hizbullah convoy in the area of Quneitra in Syria left six Hizbullah members and an Iranian general dead.

Hizbullah also boosted its measures along the southern border, carrying out extraordinary and precautionary measures.

Observers expressed belief that the party will not retaliate to the Quneitra attack before Hizbullah's Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's expected speech on Friday.

Since the raid, Israel has been warning Lebanon that it would respond to any attack by Hizbullah on Israel whether on its territories or abroad.

Israel has deployed its Iron Dome missile defense system in the north, where local media say it is amassing tanks and infantry reinforcements.

Israel and Hizbullah are bitter enemies and fought a bloody month-long war in the summer of 2006.

Since Syria's civil war began in March 2011, Israel has reportedly carried out several airstrikes in Syria that have targeted sophisticated weapons systems, including Russian-made anti-aircraft missiles and Iranian-made missiles, believed to be destined for Hizbullah.

H.K.

G.K.