Israeli Drones, Warplanes Loom Over Southern Lebanon

With the world’s attention focused on the Israeli military’s killings in the Gaza Strip (over 300 as this article is written), comparisons are already being drawn between this war and Israel’s 2006 military adventure into Lebanon. Hard feelings remain between the two nations after that war ended in the deaths of over 1,000 Lebanese civilians. Growing Israeli activity in that area is now raising fears that the new war may well extend beyond the Gaza Strip and into Lebanon as well.

Reports abound of Israeli drones flying overhead across southern Lebanon, and Israeli warplanes have set off sonic booms in the area. And though they did little to contest Israel’s last invasion, the Lebanese military have canceled leave of all of its soldiers and raised its level of alert.

Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah has also ordered his militant faction to remain on alert, saying “in the shadow of the Arab conspirators and the American political vacuum, between Bush and Obama, there is the possibility that the enemy will take advantage of the situation and attack Lebanon.”