Tensions Escalate: Lebanon-Israel Border Clashes Spark Concerns of Spreading Conflict

The crossfire on Lebanon's border with Israel may seem insignificant compared to the scale and intensity of the ongoing Hamas-Israel war in the southern region. However, the clashes have been confined to a narrow zone of approximately 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) on either side of the demarcation line, resulting in the loss of at least 13 lives since last Saturday.

However, this sparsely populated mountainous area has the potential to spark a regional conflict, which could involve various actors, such as Iran and the United States.

South Lebanon is controlled by Hezbollah, an armed group supported by Iran, which wields significant influence in the region. Additionally, Hezbollah collaborates with Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard Corps in Syria, where the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights acts as a barrier between Israel and fighters aligned with Tehran.

Smoke rises from Israeli artillery shelling in Dahaira, in southern Lebanon, at the border with Israel on October 16.

Hussein Malla/AP

Israeli soldiers patrol a road near the border with Lebanon, on Monday, amid threat of a regional conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Francisco Seco/AP

On Monday, Iran's Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian expressed concerns about the possibility of escalating conflict. He had conversations with counterparts in Tunisia, Malaysia, and Pakistan. On the social media platform X (previously known as Twitter), he emphasized the urgency of putting an end to Zionist crimes and killings in Gaza and called for the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid.

He emphasized the urgency of finding political solutions, as the likelihood of the war spreading to other areas is becoming increasingly inevitable. This situation has gained significant attention in a restless Arab and Muslim world, where images of deceased Palestinian civilians, including over 500 children, circulate on television and social media. The growing civilian death toll, surpassing rates seen in decades, contributes to this growing concern.

Skirmishes escalate into serious clashes

: The deployment of two of the US's largest aircraft carriers, including the nuclear-powered USS Gerald Ford, to the eastern Mediterranean serves as a foreboding indication of potential outcomes if the situation on the Lebanon-Israel border erupts into a full-scale conflict.

Throughout the majority of the past week, there were ongoing clashes characterized by intermittent gunfire between militants based in Lebanon and Israeli forces.

Following the unexpected attack by Hamas on October 7, Palestinian militants initiated the conflict by firing rockets from Lebanon that were subsequently intercepted over Israel. In response, Israel engaged in retaliatory fire directed towards Lebanese territory, targeting Hezbollah positions. Subsequently, Hezbollah launched missiles into the northernmost region of Israel. This repetitive sequence persisted for multiple consecutive days.

On Friday morning, the border clashes resulted in the deaths of three Israeli soldiers and three Hezbollah fighters. The situation took a turn for the worse when, at approximately 5 p.m. on Friday, Issam Abdallah, a Reuters journalist and native of south Lebanon, lost his life in an Israeli airstrike. The attack also left six other international journalists injured.

The journalists were clearly identified as press, wearing vests with visible markings, as revealed by a CNN video analysis.

According to a Lebanese security source and video evidence viewed by CNN, an Israeli Apache helicopter was present in the vicinity when the journalists were targeted. Both Lebanese army and Israeli statements suggest that the journalists were fired upon by artillery.

Israel announced that it was initiating an investigation into the incident. According to a military statement released by Israel at the time of the attack, they confirmed that they had engaged in artillery fire targeting Lebanese territory as a response to an explosion occurring near the border fence in Hanita, Israel, where Abdallah's death occurred. The tension escalated even more the following day.

Hezbollah carried out a series of strikes on Israeli targets in the disputed Shebaa farms on Saturday, prompting Israel to respond with a barrage of artillery fire. The following day, the Lebanese militants fired at multiple Israeli locations along the border, resulting in the deaths of one civilian and one soldier. Prior to these incidents, Israel had declared a four-kilometer area near the border as a closed military zone. In their statements on Sunday, Hezbollah stated that their cross-border attacks were in retaliation for the killing of Abdallah and two elderly civilians during the Israeli attacks in the border region.

Hezbollah employs Russian Kornet anti-tank guided missiles, distinguishing them from the low-tech rockets launched by Palestinian fighters in Lebanon and typically intercepted by Israel. Each of Hezbollah's recent attacks has been accompanied by a meticulously filmed video showcasing their precision, as they successfully strike Israeli troops, seemingly catching them off guard.

The videos play a crucial role in the psychological warfare driving this escalation. They vividly demonstrate the remarkable advancements in the group's weaponry since its previous clash with Israel in 2006, during which it mainly relied on imprecise Katyusha rockets of Soviet origin.

During the 2006 Lebanon-Israel war, no side emerged as a definitive victor or defeated. Lebanon witnessed widespread devastation, however, Hezbollah thwarted Israel's ultimate objective of dismantling the organization, thereby striking a blow to Israel's perception of invulnerability.

A picture of Ismail Abd Almagid's daughter.

Ivana Kottasova/CNN

Palestinian men stranded outside Gaza look on as their families endure horrors at home

Over the years, Hezbollah has significantly bolstered its arsenal and its fighters have gained valuable experience in urban warfare. Having fought against ISIS, the al-Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front, and armed opposition groups in Syria's conflict, Hezbollah's fighters have become battle-hardened. Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, has often mentioned a hypothetical situation in which his fighters would infiltrate northern Israel if another war were to break out between Lebanon and Israel. The precision-guided missiles possessed by Hezbollah have raised concerns among Israeli and US officials, particularly after they were used against Israel for the first time this month.

Nasrallah claims that his group has more than 100,000 fighters and reservists, a statement that Israeli and US officials have historically been hesitant to dismiss. Over the course of his 32-year leadership, Nasrallah has increased the size and power of the group. However, since October 7, Nasrallah has been noticeably quiet, leaving observers uncertain about the reason for his sudden silence. In recent speeches, Nasrallah praised the strengthening alliance between his group and Hamas, despite their previous opposing positions in the Syrian civil war.

Many observers speculate that Hezbollah may increase its involvement in the conflict between Israel and Palestine if there is a long-awaited Israeli ground invasion into Gaza. This speculation is mainly due to indications from Hezbollah that the current loose rules of engagement between the group and Israel could potentially be altered, with the Lebanon-based group potentially stepping in to support the Palestinians.

The outcome from this point onwards remains uncertain, leaving it open to speculation. Global leaders will closely monitor this border with anticipation. Reporting from southern Lebanon was provided by CNN's Ben Wedeman, Sarah El Sirgany, and Charbel Mallo.