Escalation Feared as Hizballah Attacks Israeli Convoy

2 minute read
Israeli soldiers carry an injured comrade after an anti-tank missile hit an army vehicle in an occupied area on the border with Lebanon on Jan. 28, 2015.
Israeli soldiers carry an injured comrade after an anti-tank missile hit an army vehicle in an occupied area on the border with Lebanon on Jan. 28, 2015.Jalaa Marey—AFP/Getty Images
By Conal Urquhart
Updated: | Originally published: ;

At least two Israeli soldiers were killed Wednesday when anti-tank missiles were fired at an Israeli convoy on the Golan Heights from Lebanon.

Israel retaliated by firing dozens of artillery shells into southern Lebanon and convened a emergency security meeting in Tel Aviv.

Israeli military said an anti-tank missile was fired at Israeli military vehicle near Lebanese border, the Associated Press reports, leaving two soldiers dead. Lebanese security officials then said Israel fired 25 artillery shells into Lebanon.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister tweeted: “At this moment the IDF [Israeli Defense Force] responds to events in the North. We will not allow terrorists to disrupt the lives of our citizens and threaten their security. We will respond forcefully those who try to challenge us.”

See Aftermath of Hizballah's Attack on Israel

Burning vehicles are seen near the village of Ghajar on Israel's border with Lebanon, Jan. 28, 2015.
Burning vehicles are seen near the village of Ghajar on Israel's border with Lebanon, Jan. 28, 2015.Maruf Khatib—Reuters
Israeli soldiers carry an injured comrade after an anti-tank missile hit an army vehicle in an occupied area on the border with Lebanon on Jan. 28, 2015.
Israeli soldiers carry an injured comrade after an anti-tank missile hit an army vehicle in an occupied area on the border with Lebanon on Jan. 28, 2015. Jalaa Marey—AFP/Getty Images
Israeli artillery fire toward targets in Lebanon near Har Dov area, on the Israeli-Lebanese border, Jan. 28, 2015.
Israeli artillery fire toward targets in Lebanon near Har Dov area, on the Israeli-Lebanese border, Jan. 28, 2015. Atef Safadi—EPA
Smoke rises after an explosion in the Lebanese village of Ghajar on the Israeli-Lebanese border Jan. 28, 2015.
Smoke rises after an explosion in the Lebanese village of Ghajar on the Israeli-Lebanese border Jan. 28, 2015.Baz Ratner—Reuters
A member of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force looks through binoculars at Mount Bental, an observation post in the Israeli occupied Golan Heights, Jan. 28, 2015.
A member of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force looks through binoculars at Mount Bental, an observation post in the Israeli occupied Golan Heights, Jan. 28, 2015. Baz Ratner—Reuters
A burnt vehicle is seen near the village of Ghajar on Israel's border with Lebano,n Jan. 28, 2015.
A burnt vehicle is seen near the village of Ghajar on Israel's border with Lebanon, Jan. 28, 2015. Maruf Khatib—Reuters

Hizballah claimed on al-Manar TV in Lebanon that they had attacked an Israeli military convoy. In a statement, Hizballah said its fighters destroyed a number of Israeli vehicles that were carrying Israeli officers and soldiers and caused casualties among “enemy ranks.”

It said the attack was carried out by a group calling itself the “heroic martyrs of Quneitra,” — referring to an area in Syria where Israel killed six members of Hizballah and an Iranian general on Jan. 18.

Wednesday’s attack took place near Mount Dov and Shebaa Farms, a disputed tract of land where the borders of Israel, Lebanon and Syria meet.

[AP]

More Must-Reads from TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com