While Israeli security forces are currently engaged in combat against Hamas, they are also contending with conflicts on their turbulent northern border with Lebanon. The Israeli military has been involved in confrontations with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah over the past four days. On Wednesday, Israel initially reported that a "hostile aircraft" had crossed its northern border from Lebanon, prompting an alert regarding potential infiltration. However, the Israel Defense Forces later confirmed that the alert had been issued in error.
"The alert issued nationwide on the Home Front Command app telling residents to shelter was a false alarm," stated the Israeli military. "This is a mistake, there is no such instruction."
Hezbollah, the armed group in Lebanon, initiated artillery and rocket exchanges with Israel shortly after Hamas infiltrated Israeli territory. On Wednesday, Hezbollah fired an anti-tank missile, claiming to have inflicted casualties on Israeli troops.
Israel acknowledged the attack from Lebanon and retaliated with an artillery barrage on southern Lebanon on the same day.
In the midst of these developments, John Kirby, the White House national security spokesperson, stated that the United States is closely monitoring the clashes between Lebanon and Israel. He confirmed reports of rocket fire originating from southern Lebanon into Israel, emphasizing that Israel's interests do not align with the necessity of fighting and defending on a second front.
Furthermore, the US Embassy in Beirut declared that it remains operational and has not been evacuated. Any reports suggesting otherwise are inaccurate, as confirmed by the embassy.
Â
