Wednesday 28 January 2015

Hezbollah Retaliates: Live Coverage



Israeli soldiers treat their injured after an anti-tank missile hit an army vehicle in an occupied area on the border with Lebanon on January 28, 2015. AFP/Jalaa Marey


Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Israel hit Lebanon with at a number of rockets after an anti-tank missile was fired at an Israel Occupation Forces (IOF) convoy near the Lebanon border on Wednesday.
Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah said in a statement: “At 11:35 am on Wednesday, the ‘Quneitra righteous martyrs in the Islamic resistance’ group targeted an Israeli military convoy.”
The Israeli army said on its Twitter feed that an “initial reports indicate a military vehicle was hit, apparently by an anti-tank missile in the area of Har Dov,” using Israel’s term for the Shebaa Farms which is also close to the ceasefire line with Syria.
Hezbollah news channel Al-Manar said nine Israeli vehicles were targeted in the attack, while Al-Mayadeen news channel’s Director Ghassan Ben Jeddo, said at least 15 Israeli soldiers have been killed.
Al-Akhbar’s news coverage of tensions between Hezbollah and the Zionist state can be viewed on this link.
This blog will provide context and supplementary information about the discussions, analysis, and the like in regards to this latest act of violence by Israel on the Palestinians.
Al-Akhbar will continue to post live updates on the situation in Lebanon.
Show oldest updates on top.


Israel’s Netanyahu Blames Iran for Hezbollah’s Retaliation

Jerusalem Post said that sources close to Israel Prime Minsiter Benjamin Netanyahu Blamed Iran for Wednesday’s attack. The Israeli newspaper did not name the source but quoted him as saying,
“Iran is behind this heinous terrorist attack. The same Iran which the world powers are forming an agreement with.”

Israel Says Two Soldiers Killed, Seven Injured in Hezbollah Attack

Israeli media confirmed that two Israeli soldiers were killed and seven others wounded in Wednesday’s attack.

Al-Qassam Brigades Backs Hezbollah’s Retaliation

According to RT Arabic, al-Qassam Brigades urge Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah to join forces with other resistance movements in the fight against Israel.

Israel Major General: This War “Doesn’t Belong to Israel”

International New York Times quoted Israel Ziv, a reserve major general who once led the army’s operations directorate,as saying “It’s very clear, from the events and retaliation, that we will find ourselves in a war that does not belong to Israel.”

Iranian Revolutionary Guard: We Will Fight Next to Hezbollah

04:02pmHezbollah’s news channel Al-Manar:
Iranian Revolutionary Guard: We will fight next to the Islamic resistance movement Hezbollah in all its fights against the Zionist State.

“Glory and Eternity”

From the Quneitra martyrs of the Islamic Resistance (Hezbollah) to your soul Commander Abu Issa “glory and eternity.”
From the Quneitra martyrs of the Islamic Resistance (Hezbollah) to your soul Commander Abu Issa “glory and eternity.”
On January 18, an Israeli airstrike on the Syrian city of Quneitra killed six fighters of Lebanon’s resistance movement Hezbollah, including a commander, Mohammed Issa known as “Abu Issa,” and the son of assassinated senior commander Imad Mughniyeh, as well as Iranian Revolutionary Guards General Mohammad Ali Allahdadi.

Spain: Spanish UN Peacekeeper Killed in South Lebanon

A UN peacekeeper from Spain was killed Wednesday in southern Lebanon, a source at the Spanish embassy said, as the Israeli military shelled border areas after a Hezbollah attack.
“I can confirm that a Spanish soldier was killed in southern Lebanon,” the source told AFP.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy expressed on Twitter his “great sadness at the death of a Spanish soldier in Lebanon.”
Earlier, United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon spokesman Andrea Tenenti said the peacekeepers’ commander, Major General Luciano Portolano, was “in close contact with all the parties, urging maximum restraint to prevent an escalation.”
UNIFIL has been deployed in south Lebanon since 1978.
Its ranks were reinforced after the 2006 war between Israel and the Shiite militant group Hezbollah that killed 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers.
The 10,000-strong peacekeeping force, including nearly 600 Spanish soldiers, is composed of troops from 36 countries.
(Reuters)

Lebanon’s Former President Sleiman Warns Against Breaching 1701 UN Resolution

Former Lebanese President Michel Sleiman warned in a statement against “actions” that would lead to a breach of the 1701 UN resolution.
He also stressed that Lebanon has “no interest” in conflicts that would allow Israel and terrorist groups to take advantage of Lebanon’s “relatively stable political situation, which has been enhanced lately by internal dialogue.”
Sleiman also called for avoiding actions that would help achieve Israeli goals, saying Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu wanted war for “elections purposes.”

Lieberman: Israeli Response Should be “Forceful” and “Disproportionate”

03:26pmIsrael’s Ynet news reported Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who was meeting with China’s foreign minister in Beijing, as saying that Israel should respond in a ‘forceful and disproportionate manner’ to Wednesday’s attack on Israeli Army convoy.
“The firing of rockets at our sovereign territory should be responded to harshly and disproportionately, just as China or the US would in similar circumstances,” said Lieberman.

Media: Two Israeli Warships Enter Lebanese Waters

According to Lebanese news website al-Nashra, two Israeli warships entered Lebanese territorial waters.
Al-Mayadeen reported Israeli jets flying at very low attitudes over South Lebanon.

Photo: Smoke From Israeli Shelling Covers Lebanon’s al-Majidiyah

Smoke from Israeli shelling covers the Lebanese town of al-Majidiyah (L) on the Lebanese border with Occupied Palestine as the town of al-Ghajar is seen on the right on January 28, 2015. AFP/Ali Dia

Israel’s Rosh Pina, Haifa Airports Closed

According to Haaretz, the IOF said no Israeli soldier went missing, despite earlier reports.
Haaretz also reported that airports in Rosh Pina and Haifa suspended operations amid the ongoing fire. Residents in the northern city of Metuala were instructed to stay indoors.

Photo: Injured Israeli Soldier on the Lebanese-Israeli Border

Israeli soldiers carry an injured comrade after an anti-tank missile hit an army vehicle in an occupied area on the border with Lebanon on January 28, 2015. AFP/Jalaa Marey

Israel Confirms “Casualties”

From the Quneitra martyrs of the Islamic Resistance (Hezbollah) to your soul Commander Abu Issa “glory and eternity.”
View image on Twitter
مجموعة شهداء القنيطرة، لروحك أيها الشّهيد القائد “أبو عيسى” المجد والخلود 
From the Quneitra martyrs of the Islamic Resistance (Hezbollah) to your soul Commander Abu Issa “glory and eternity.”
On January 18, an Israeli airstrike on the Syrian city of Quneitra killed six fighters of Lebanon’s resistance movement Hezbollah, including a commander, Mohammed Issa known as “Abu Issa,” and the son of assassinated senior commander Imad Mughniyeh, as well as Iranian Revolutionary Guards General Mohammad Ali Allahdadi.

Spain: Spanish UN Peacekeeper Killed in South Lebanon

A UN peacekeeper from Spain was killed Wednesday in southern Lebanon, a source at the Spanish embassy said, as the Israeli military shelled border areas after a Hezbollah attack.”I can confirm that a Spanish soldier was killed in southern Lebanon,” the source told AFP.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy expressed on Twitter his “great sadness at the death of a Spanish soldier in Lebanon.”
Earlier, United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon spokesman Andrea Tenenti said the peacekeepers’ commander, Major General Luciano Portolano, was “in close contact with all the parties, urging maximum restraint to prevent an escalation.”
UNIFIL has been deployed in south Lebanon since 1978.
Its ranks were reinforced after the 2006 war between Israel and the Shiite militant group Hezbollah that killed 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers.
The 10,000-strong peacekeeping force, including nearly 600 Spanish soldiers, is composed of troops from 36 countries.
(Reuters)

Lebanon’s Former President Sleiman Warns Against Breaching 1701 UN Resolution

Former Lebanese President Michel Sleiman warned in a statementagainst “actions” that would lead to a breach of the 1701 UN resolution.He also stressed that Lebanon has “no interest” in conflicts that would allow Israel and terrorist groups to take advantage of Lebanon’s “relatively stable political situation, which has been enhanced lately by internal dialogue.”
Sleiman also called for avoiding actions that would help achieve Israeli goals, saying Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu wanted war for “elections purposes.”

Lieberman: Israeli Response Should be “Forceful” and “Disproportionate”

Israel’s Ynet news reported Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who was meeting with China’s foreign minister in Beijing, as saying that Israel should respond in a ‘forceful and disproportionate manner’ to Wednesday’s attack on Israeli Army convoy.”The firing of rockets at our sovereign territory should be responded to harshly and disproportionately, just as China or the US would in similar circumstances,” said Lieberman.

Media: Two Israeli Warships Enter Lebanese Waters

According to Lebanese news website al-Nashra, two Israeli warships entered Lebanese territorial waters.Al-Mayadeen reported Israeli jets flying at very low attitudes over South Lebanon.

Photo: Smoke From Israeli Shelling Covers Lebanon’s al-Majidiyah

Smoke from Israeli shelling covers the Lebanese town of al-Majidiyah (L) on the Lebanese border with Occupied Palestine as the town of al-Ghajar is seen on the right on January 28, 2015. AFP/Ali Dia

Israel’s Rosh Pina, Haifa Airports Closed

According to Haaretz, the IOF said no Israeli soldier went missing, despite earlier reports.Haaretz also reported that airports in Rosh Pina and Haifa suspended operations amid the ongoing fire. Residents in the northern city of Metuala were instructed to stay indoors.

Photo: Injured Israeli Soldier on the Lebanese-Israeli Border

Israeli soldiers carry an injured comrade after an anti-tank missile hit an army vehicle in an occupied area on the border with Lebanon on January 28, 2015. AFP/Jalaa Marey

Israel Confirms “Casualties”

Israeli Occupation Forces spokesman confirms “casualties” on Twitter:

UN Urges “Maximum Restraint”

02:49pmHead of UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon urges “maximum restraint” from all parties to prevent escalation on the Lebanese-Israeli frontier.

Netanyahu: Take Israel Summer Aggression Against Gaza as an Example

According to Israeli media YNetNews: Prime Minister Netanyahu warned Israel’s opponents in the Lebanon to take the summer aggression against Gaza as an example of the magnitude of IOF retaliation for Wednesday attack.“At this moment, the IDF [IOF] is responding to events in the north. To everyone who is trying to challenge us at the northern border, I recommend for them look what happened there, not far from the city of Sderot, in Gaza. Hamas took its hardest hit since its formation and the IDF is prepared to act strongly on all fronts,” Netanyahu said at a ceremony in the southern city of Sderot.

Smoke From Israeli Shelling Covers Lebanon’s al-Majidiyeh

A Lebanese army soldier uses his binoculars as smoke from Israeli shelling covers the Lebanese town of al-Majidiyeh on the Lebanese border with Occupied Palestine in the Wazzani area on January 28, 2015.AFP/Ali Dia

UN Says UNIFIL Soldier Killed on Lebanon-Israel Border

Updated at 3:00 pm (GMT +2): A member of the United Nations peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon (UNIFIL) was killed on Wednesday, a UN spokesman said, without giving details of how.”One peacekeeper was killed. We are looking into the circumstances of this tragic incident,” said Andrea Tenenti, spokesman for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

Hamas’ Marzouk: Hezbollah’s Retaliation is a ‘Normal Reaction’

Schools in Marjeyoun, Hasbaya South Lebanon Closed: NNA



Lebanon’s state run National News Agency’s (NNA)


reporter Taher Abu Hamdan stated that Israeli bombing has decreased, with one missile launched every 10 minutes toward Kfar Shouba and Halta. He also reported that schools in Marjeyoun and Hasbaya regions in South Lebanon were closed.

Large Plumes of Smoke Rise Above the Israeli-Occupied Lebanese Village of Ghajar


02:17pmPhoto:

View image on Twitter
Large plumes of white smoke rise above the Israeli-occupied Lebanese village of Ghajar.
Photo: Smoke rises after an explosion in the Lebanese village of Ghajar 
on borders with Isreal. 



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