Israeli army raises combat readiness amid escalation on Lebanon border

By Anadolu staff

JERUSALEM (AA) - The Israeli army raised its combat readiness on Monday amid a rising escalation along the border with Lebanon.

Tension has escalated between Hezbollah and Israel following a missile attack on the Druze town of Majdal Shams in Israel-occupied Golan Heights on Saturday.

While Israel blamed Hezbollah for the attack, which killed 12 people and injured 40 others, the Lebanese group has denied any responsibility.

“We are significantly increasing our readiness for the next phase of fighting in the north, and simultaneously, we are engaged in fighting in Gaza,” military spokesperson Ella Wawyah said in a statement.

Wawyah termed Saturday’s missile attack in Israel-occupied Golan Heights as a “serious incident,” adding that they “will respond to it appropriately.”

According to Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, the army expects fighting to last several days.

Fears have grown about a full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah amid an exchange of cross-border attacks between the two sides.

The escalation comes against the backdrop of a deadly Israeli onslaught on Gaza, which has killed more than 39,300 people since last October, following an attack by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala in Istanbul