Israeli jets reportedly buzz Lebanese towns
State news agency claims Israeli troops and armored vehicles massing along the border, near Shebaa farms
Adiv Sterman is a breaking news editor at The Times of Israel.
Four Israeli Air Force fighter jets crossed into Lebanese airspace Thursday, the Lebanese National News Agency reported. According to the report, the planes flew over the villages of Arqoub, Hasbaya, and West Bekaa at a medium altitude.
The news agency also claimed that Israeli troops and armored vehicles had massed along the Lebanese border, near the Shebaa farms.
There was no Israeli confirmation of the reports.
Israel has warned that it will intervene militarily if it fears Syrian non-conventional weapons are being transferred, or about to be transferred, to Hezbollah forces in Lebanon or other rogue forces.
Earlier this month, Israeli Air Force jets reportedly carried out a series of mock raids over southern Lebanon, flying low over the towns of Nabatiyeh, Iqlim al-Tuffah and Marjayoun.
The fighter planes also reportedly flew over the Litani River, a natural barrier that marked the northern lines of the IDF presence in Lebanon before Israel’s 2000 withdrawal to the 1949 armistice lines.
On January 30, foreign media reported Israeli warplanes attacked a target inside Syria close to the Lebanese-Syrian border. Most sources indicated the target was a weapons convoy that was set to bring anti-aircraft defense systems and other weaponry to Hezbollah.
Syria maintained that Israel had bombed a “scientific research center,” and released footage purporting to show the damaged facility.
