In the backdrop of mounting artillery exchanges near the Lebanese border in northern Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a visit to the area. During his visit, Netanyahu issued a stern warning to Hezbollah, stating that if hostilities were to intensify, Hezbollah "will make the mistake of its life", news agency AFP reported. He pledged that Israel would respond with a force beyond Hezbollah's imagination, with potentially devastating consequences for both the group and the state of Lebanon.
These remarks come as there are concerns about a new potential conflict zone as Israel grapples with the situation in Gaza where they are engaged in a battle with Hamas.
On Sunday, Israel's defense ministry issued evacuation orders for an additional 14 communities along the border, adding to the dozens already evacuated, AFP reported.
It's worth noting that Hezbollah is aligned with Hamas, which triggered the recent violence with an attack on October 7, leading to the deaths of at least 1,400 people in Israel, according to Israeli authorities.
In retaliation, Israel has carried out extensive airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, resulting in the reported deaths of over 4,650 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry. Simultaneously, Israel has exchanged fire with Hezbollah along its northern border.
Since October 7, these exchanges have claimed the lives of at least 33 people in Lebanon, as reported by AFP. This includes primarily combatants but also at least four civilians, including a journalist from Reuters. Four individuals in Israel, comprising three soldiers and one civilian, have also lost their lives.
Israel has evacuated villages on its side of the border, while several thousand Lebanese residents have fled the border regions for the southern city of Tyre.
The situation escalated further on Sunday when the Israeli army reported identifying a terrorist cell attempting to launch anti-tank missiles near the Avivim area along the Lebanon border, AFP reported. Israeli soldiers intervened before the attack could be executed. Additionally, an anti-tank missile was fired at an Israeli tank in the disputed Shebaa Farms border district. There were no casualties or damage on the Israeli side.
The tensions have also involved aerial activity, with Lebanese reports of Israeli aircraft overflying southern Lebanon and Israel launching bombings along the border.
While the hostilities have, so far, been contained, analysts have raised concerns that Hezbollah might escalate its actions if Israel were to initiate a ground invasion in Gaza.
Naim Qassem, the deputy leader of Hezbollah, warned on Saturday that the group could further intensify its involvement. The Israeli army spokesperson, Jonathan Conricus, cautioned that Hezbollah's actions are risking Lebanon's stability, prosperity, and sovereignty, as per AFP's report. He questioned whether the Lebanese state was willing to jeopardize these factors for the sake of Gaza-based terrorists.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati disclosed on Sunday that diplomatic efforts are underway to halt Israeli attacks on Lebanon and prevent the Gaza conflict from expanding. Mikati assured that Lebanon's allies are working to restore normalcy to the situation. However, as a precautionary measure, Lebanon is developing an emergency response plan.
Notably, Hezbollah, backed by Iran, engaged in a war with Israel in 2006, resulting in over 1,200 casualties in Lebanon, primarily civilians, and 160 casualties in Israel, mainly soldiers.