Fearing Retaliation, Israel Puts Syria, Lebanon Borders on High Alert

'Warns' Lebanon to Stop Any Retaliation for Their Attack

On Monday evening, Israeli warplanes launched two bombing runs against eastern Lebanon, attacking a Hezbollah base near the Syrian border. Today, Israel is “warning” Lebanon to prevent any retaliation against them for the attack.

Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz said the Israeli government would hold Lebanon responsible for any attacks on Israel, saying it is “the duty of the Lebanese government” to prevent retaliatory strikes on Israel after being attacked by Israel just days earlier.

Hezbollah addressed the attack on Wednesday, promising retaliation against Israel but saying they would choose the time and location of that retaliation. Similar comments made after Israeli attacks on Syria have resulted in no retaliation at all.

Despite this, Israel has put the military forces along their borders with both Lebanon and Syria non high alert, anticipating revenge attacks for their most recent strikes.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.