WHAT IS SYRIA’S POSITION?
Syria desires to take again the Golan Heights.
Within the Nineties, it periodically engaged in negotiations underneath which Israel would return half or all of its Golan holdings in return for a peace treaty with Syria. Such talks got here to a halt with the Arab uprisings of 2011 that led to a bloody civil battle in Syria.
Israel and Syria stay formally in a state of battle, though a ceasefire line has been comparatively calm over the many years.
HOW BAD COULD IT GET?
The latest strike in Golan Heights has sparked considerations that the months of cross-border hostilities may spiral right into a broader, extra damaging battle.
“Our response will come and it is going to be extreme,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated within the wake of the assault.
Already, an Israeli drone strike on Jul 29 killed two Hezbollah fighters in south Lebanon in addition to three different folks together with an toddler, sources stated. They have been the primary fatalities in Lebanon because the Golan Heights incident.
The Israeli army stated its air defences downed a drone that crossed from Lebanon into the Western Galilee space on Jul 29.
Previous wars have inflicted heavy harm.
In 2006, Israeli strikes levelled giant areas of Beirut’s Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs, knocked out Beirut airport, in addition to hit roads, bridges and different infrastructure. Practically 1 million folks in Lebanon fled their properties.
In Israel, the impression included 300,000 folks fleeing their properties to flee Hezbollah rockets and a few 2,000 properties destroyed.
Hezbollah now has a far greater arsenal than in 2006, together with rockets it says can hit all components of Israel.
HOW HAVE MAJOR PARTIES RESPONDED?
Lebanese Overseas Minister Abdallah Bou Habib stated a flurry of diplomatic exercise has sought to comprise the anticipated Israeli response.
“Israel will escalate in a restricted method and Hezbollah will reply in a restricted method … These are the assurances we have obtained,” Bou Habib stated in an interview with native broadcaster Al-Jadeed.
A number of analysts instructed AFP that this was more likely to be the case, with Israel cautious of getting to combat wars on two fronts.
Whereas Washington has additionally blamed Hezbollah for the rocket strike and defended Israel’s proper to reply, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a cellphone name with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Monday, emphasised the significance of stopping an escalation of the battle.
White Home Nationwide Safety Council spokesman John Kirby stated he was “assured” a broader battle may very well be averted.
He additionally stated the Golan incident shouldn’t have an effect on ongoing negotiations on a Gaza ceasefire and the discharge of hostages held by Hamas.
The UN peacekeeping mission in south Lebanon stated it had intensified contacts with Israel and Lebanese authorities to dial down tensions.
“No person desires to start out a wider battle, however a miscalculation may set off one. There’s nonetheless area for a diplomatic answer,” spokesperson Andrea Tenenti stated.
