Israeli Airstrike Wounds at Least 10 in Southern Lebanon Town

US envoy says war between Israel and Hezbollah can still be avoided

On Wednesday, Israel carried out an airstrike against the southern Lebanese town of al-Abbassieh targeting a motorcycle and two cars. According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, the strike wounded at least 10 people.

Though Israeli strikes typically target Hezbollah members or infrastructure, there is no word that today’s attack hit Hezbollah. The Health Ministry says the wounded were transferred to local hospitals.

The attack comes a day after an Israeli drone strike against a car in Baraachit, also in southern Lebanon, which killed two Hezbollah members. Those killed have yet to be identified, although Hezbollah confirmed it lost members to the strike.

These incidents come during the visit of US envoy Amos Hochstein, who was in Beirut today, to discuss a plan to prevent war in Lebanon. Hochstein is quoted as saying he still believes war between Israel and Hezbollah can be avoided.

Avoiding war has been a top priority for international officials for months, although little progress has been made. Hochstein tied the conflict to a potential ceasefire in Israel’s current war in the Gaza Strip.

That makes sense, as Hezbollah has said in the past that it would only agree to a truce if Israel and Hamas signed a ceasefire in Gaza. So far, such a ceasefire has not happened, and there is no end in sight for the war in the Strip.

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.