Hizbullah Claims Destroying Israeli Vehicle in Shebaa Farms with Bomb
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Hizbullah targeted an Israeli patrol in the occupied Shebaa Farms with an explosive device on Monday, prompting Israel to shell areas in southern Lebanon.
The party claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement.
“At 3:10 pm Monday, the Martyr Leader Samir al-Quntar Unit blew up a large bomb against an Israeli armored patrol in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms, destroying a Humvee vehicle and inflicting casualties on those inside it,” the Hizbullah statement said.
The wording of the statement indicates that the operation is in response to the assassination of Hizbullah top operative Samir al-Quntar, who was killed in an airstrike in Syria blamed on Israel.
Israel retaliated by opening artillery fire on areas in southern Lebanon.
Hizbullah's al-Manar television quoted “security sources” as saying that “one of the targeted vehicles was carrying a senior Israeli officer.”
Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah had vowed to take revenge for the death of Quntar, who had been jailed by Israel for around 30 years over the killing of three Israelis before he was freed by a 2008 prisoner exchange.
Israel confirmed that its forces had been targeted in the border area after the attack.
"IED detonated against IDF (Israeli army) vehicles in the area of Mt. Dov," wrote Israeli army spokesman Peter Lerner in a tweet, referring to the disputed Shebaa Farms.
He said the Israeli army responded with "targeted artillery fire."
An Israeli army spokeswoman said there were no indications so far of injuries on the Israeli side.
Later the Israeli army said it had carried out a "special evaluation of the situation."
"We consider this event gravely serious and we are in a state of high alert," said army spokesman Moti Almoz in a statement.
Lebanese security sources said Israel responded with artillery fire into two villages adjacent to the Shebaa Farms, but had no immediate information on damage or injuries.
Later on Monday, al-Jadeed television's reporter in southern Lebanon said the Israeli shelling did not cause any casualties.
Al-Jadeed also quoted an Israeli army spokesperson as saying that "the bomb explosion on the Lebanese border did not cause any casualties" among Israeli forces.
A UNIFIL statement said the Israeli shelling targeted the southern Lebanese areas of Kafrshouba, al-Abbasiyeh and Bastara, causing no casualties.
UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major-General Luciano Portolano was in “immediate contact with the parties urging both sides to exercise utmost restraint in order to prevent any escalation of the situation,” the U.N. force said.
“The need of the time is to maintain security vigil and to exercise utmost restraint against any provocation,” Portolano said.
“General calm has been restored in the area and the parties have reassured me of their continued commitment to maintain the cessation of hostilities in accordance with (U.N. Security Council) resolution 1701,” he added.
UNIFIL has further reinforced its presence on the ground and intensified patrols across its area of operations in coordination with the Lebanese army, the UNIFIL statement said.
Shortly after his release in 2008, Quntar joined Hizbullah. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said he became "head of the Syrian Resistance for the Liberation of the Golan," a group launched two years ago by Hizbullah in the Syrian region, most of which Israel seized in the 1967 Middle East war.
The Shebaa Farms have been under Israeli occupation since the 1967 Middle East war. Lebanon says the area is Lebanese territory, while the U.N. says it was annexed from Syria.
Hizbullah has an extensive presence in Syria, where it is mostly working to bolster the regime against an uprising that began in March 2011.
Hizbullah and Israel scuffle intermittently in the disputed border area between Lebanon and Israel, and the powerful Lebanese group has in the past targeted Israeli army patrols in response to strikes against its members.
In January last year, it claimed an attack in the Shebaa Farms against an army patrol in apparent revenge for an Israeli strike in Syria that killed six Hizbullah fighters and a member of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards.
In 2006, Israel fought a devastating war against Hizbullah that killed more than 1,200 people in Lebanon, mostly civilians, and some 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers.
Y.R.
04 January 2016, 16:36
168
As usual, when Hizb can't get to any serious target, they target civilians, just like their Nemesis Daesh do. Ya zillit el Shia ya Hizb!!!
04 January 2016, 16:47
1214
what part of "against an Israeli armored patrol in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms" did you not understand ya maxx?
04 January 2016, 16:50
1215
and btw, israel has been bombing lebanon for 4 days before this, without a peep being said about it here.
http://fr.timesofisrael.com/4e-jour-de-bombardement-sur-le-liban-par-larmee-israelienne/
04 January 2016, 17:14
113
Second, though I have quite a good number of friends who happen to be Israeli, that is not the same as supporting the murderous actions of the Israeli MILITARY. Not all Israelis, or Jews, support the actions of the Israeli GOVERNMENT's aggressions, be it against Palestinians, Lebanese, Syrians, or anyone else (otherwise, Netanyahu would have won 100% of the last election). Very similar to how not all Lebanese, or Shia, support the actions of Hizb. Or not all Saudis, or Sunnis, supporting the actions of crimes of Daesh. One can't just attack a whole group of people and then treat any innocents caught in the attacks as "collateral damage".
04 January 2016, 17:19
93
Third, sorry for not having been around much in the past few days to comment on every depressing bit of news that is posted, but I was celebrating the Christmas holidays with my girlfriend. Had I been a politician with enough power to have responsibility to mind the news before my family's happiness, it may have been different. But I am a normal Human Being who cares most for what I can actively make a positive difference in, and alas, bickering and responding to insults and accusations on Naharnet forums is just not one of those opportunities. That said, tin3ad 3alaykom bil so77a wal salémeh, and may 2016 be a happy and productive year for you, despite all the grim politics of the region. :)
04 January 2016, 17:32
94
Southern and Mowaten: Naharnet removed my conciliatory replies to your comments, but did not remove my original comment that seems to have made you so upset. I don't know if you got the conciliatory ones, but I hope you get this one: Cheers, and have a happy 2016.
04 January 2016, 17:43
1112
well i see where you're coming from but just a few points:
-jews are not all supportive of, and responsible for israel crimes, but all israelis profit from these crimes whether they (explicitly) support them or not. the only israelis truly innocent are those who reject serving in the army (a handful) or those who renounce their nationality (even fewer). others live on stolen land, elect murderous leaders and serve in the "most moral" army in the world. having said this, i wouldn't condone killing innocents either way, there's plenty of military targets to hit.
-i wasn't blaming you when i said "without a peep being said", i was blaming naharnet and other medias who didnt talk about it, and actually it's because of that you weren't aware.
-happy new year to you
04 January 2016, 18:55
87
@mowaten E-X-C-E-L-L-E-N-T. Still laughing since the day you declared with a straight face you were a shiaa atheist and also a member of hezbollah with only one account. I think i will also continue to laugh at your statement "the only ones targeting civilians are your israeli friends. ". Thank you Thank you
04 January 2016, 20:48
95
Dear God!!!! Dear Lord!!!!
Even on an article as insignificant as this I find you mowaten spamming, trolling, and terrorizing other posters. What kind of a being are you? New and fresh evidence surfaces by the minute that you are a paid poster but the question remains who pays you and for what exact purpose? Is it the Iranian embassy, is it the revolutionary guard, is it the syrian intelligence or the ex-KGB? These questions must be objectively answered by you and NOW!
04 January 2016, 17:05
112
If you really enjoy seeing dead civilians you need to vaction in Syria and Yemen or the KSA execution area.
04 January 2016, 17:05
101
If you really enjoy seeing dead civilians you need to vaction in Syria and Yemen or the KSA execution area.
04 January 2016, 17:08
112
First of all, O Southern and Mowaten, the version of the article that I was posting on read very differently from the one that is online now that I reply to your comments. I hope one day Naharnet will adopt the policy of allowing people to read older versions of articles, or else start a new article once they get new information, because that would help diffuse a lot of misunderstandings. In the previous version of the article it said something along the lines of "targeted a civilian vehicle" - hence my outrage. Military targets in the Occupied Shebaa Farms are fair game by me, as I have always stated.
04 January 2016, 17:08
1211
Karma hits back on the zionists once again, we will also see March 14 the zionist lackeys condemn this act ofcourse.
04 January 2016, 17:57
92
Mystic, Lebanon - thankfully! - isn't divided into just March 8 and March 14 factions. I, for one, hate both equally. ;D And second of all, how could you possibly see this as "Karma hitting back"? The Israeli targets were military targets, so they can deal with it; but the Lebanese targets were villagers who were minding their business when the bombs - yet again - came afalling. If anything, the "Karma" analogy was not very fitting in this case.
That being said, ta3azeeyetna for Sheikh Nimr, and m3awdeen bi salémtak. I personally have no sympathy for Quntar - I am against all murder, being it done for profit, duty or fun - but for Sheikh Nimr, m3awdeen bi salémtak.
04 January 2016, 18:10
119
This act of terror is condemned by any civilized people. What's so heroic about planting an explosive device! As others have said you begged for resolution 1701. Instead of Killing Syrian civilians in Syria why don't you fight Israel from Syria. Iranian sectarian tools
05 January 2016, 01:25
58
LubaniMasi7i, is it not considered blasphemy under Lebanese law to depict the Christian cross as a weapon?
05 January 2016, 04:33
95
I tell you what is blasphemous: Claiming that God has a party that is Persian; armed; and massacres worm and children.
04 January 2016, 16:44
159
a “Hizbullah source” as saying that “the bomb that exploded in the Shebaa Farms targeted a civilian car....."
04 January 2016, 18:13
106
To start with, the Shebaa Farms are not occupied Lebanese territory, ACCORDING TO THE UN, so stop claiming that they are.
04 January 2016, 17:15
1311
But but I thought M14ers said the Hezb won't do anything :(
"A high ranking Israeli official was killed" lmaoooo
M14ers A special kind of stupid! :)
05 January 2016, 09:23
80
Anyone who believes anything about Israel that is mentioned on BBC must really be in a sad state.
It is well know that BBC is the most anti-Israel and anti-Jewish broadcasting station in the whole of the western world.
05 January 2016, 11:57
24
hahahah philippo, never ashamed to defend that wretched plague of israel are you?
04 January 2016, 17:15
71
Hizbullah's al-Manar television quoted “security sources” as saying that “one of the targeted vehicles was carrying a senior Israeli officer.”
yup it was Ariel Sharon or more likely Moshe Dayan
04 January 2016, 17:43
1211
Ballah a bulldozer huh lmaoooo how can anyone have a serious conversion with someone who has selective memory and makes shit up!! :(
M14 A special kind of stupid
04 January 2016, 18:36
108
anonyetexasusa
the first statement by hizb of iran said they targeted a civilian car carrying a high ranking Mossad agent...lol. As if they have the means to know who is riding in what car.
04 January 2016, 18:04
99
Did the shia iranian resistance seek and get the approval of Lebanon's government before it took on this criminal act which clearly violates Resolution 1701. I recall a week or so ago the glorious iranian resistance was up in arms demanding the Prime Minister seek the cabinet's approval before Lebanon joins an anti terrorism coalition.
04 January 2016, 18:33
98
Exfpm; are you serious. Nassrallah is a double faced traitor who serves his masters in qom. He is above the law, the norms, the constitution. By planting an IED he now can say he avenged the terrorist Qintar. Another terrorist divine achievement added to his record.
04 January 2016, 21:14
86
@Rita.Nahhas
They won't answer you. If they answer it will be insults or "out of subject". This is the level of their intellect and education.
People like you and I, are free people searching for the common good of the entire population.
People like them are filled with hatred and do not understand words like happiness, serenity, peace and friendliness. They are paid supporters of warmongers ready to ruin their life for some little handful of dirty money.
05 January 2016, 01:13
82
Someone give Hizbullah independence already. Let them run their own mini state, instead of governing the whole of Lebanon. Who needs Dahyeh or Baalbek anyway? That's one part of Lebanon I won't be missing. More and more, the idea of a divided Lebanon sounds more desireable.
05 January 2016, 16:00
01
A BS attack meant to give some weak signal that Hezbollah's supposed raison d etre is to "resist" Israel. So, they blow up some old truck. Man that's weak.
