Israel’s ‘limited’ response to incoming rockets indicates from Lebanon unwillingness to escalate: Experts

By Stephanie Radi

BEIRUT (AA) - Military experts in Lebanon believe the ‘limited’ Israeli response to rocket fire from Lebanon is an implicit message to all parties that Tel Aviv is not about to escalate its actions.

Experts told Anadolu in separate interviews that things would remain stable, however, the continuation of Israeli violations in Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem may lead to again igniting the situation.

The Israeli army said Thursday that at least 30 rockets were fired from southern Lebanon toward Israel.

The army, in response, targeted an open area in the vicinity of Lebanese territory with heavy artillery, without registering any damages.

- No intention to escalate

These events coincided with Israeli police's incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque and assault on worshipers, in addition to a special visit by the head of the political bureau of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, to the Lebanese capital of Beirut.

Strategic and military expert, retired Brig. Gen. Amin Hoteit, said Israel "was careful when choosing the targets it bombed in Lebanon.”

He pointed out that it had sent implicit messages that it was not about to escalate but was only responding to the bombing of its settlements.

“The missiles launched from Lebanon aimed to protest against the Israeli aggression and brutality toward Al-Aqsa Mosque, and to send a message of warning,” he said.

Another expert, Brig. Gen. Hisham Jaber, said, “The situation will not develop further in southern Lebanon.”

Retired Brig. Gen. Wehbe Katicha told Anadolu: “The escalation depends on who started firing the missiles, and whether they want to escalate or not.”

He said new developments in the next 24 hours could change the course of events.

- No responsibility claims

While no group claimed responsibility for the attacks, Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee blamed Hamas for rockets fired from Lebanon but he held the Lebanese government responsible as the rockets were "fired from its territories toward Israel."

Jaber said that "since Israel accused Hamas, its response will focus on Hamas in the Gaza Strip," ruling out an escalation of tensions in southern Lebanon. “In the most extreme cases, Tel Aviv may use drones to strike the centers of the movement in Lebanon.”

Jaber pointed out that Israel "did not accuse Hezbollah so that it would not have to attack it, because Hezbollah would then respond in return.”

Hoteit said: "Implicitly, all the resistance factions claim responsibility for what happened.”

Katicha said, "Not claiming responsibility indicates the unwillingness to escalate further."

- Complaint at UNSC

Lebanon moved to lodge an official complaint with the UN Security Council for Israel’s deliberate "aggression" early Friday, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

It said Israel violated Lebanon’s sovereignty by bombing areas in southern Lebanon.

Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Thursday denounced the firing of rockets from southern Lebanon into northern Israel, announcing that investigations are underway to discover and arrest perpetrators.

Mikati stressed that "the army and the United Nations forces (UNIFIL) are intensifying their investigations to uncover the circumstances of the operation and arrest the perpetrators."

Katicha said, "The Lebanese state does not exist, in terms of security, in the south, rather Hezbollah with its weapons and self-security controls the region.”

Jaber said: "This event is not the first of its kind. About a year ago, rockets were fired from the same place toward Israel, the Palestinians claimed responsibility for the attack."

“UNIFIL and the Lebanese army cannot cover every square meter in the country,” he added.

- Calmness is everyone's desire

Following Thursday's events, the US State Department condemned firing missiles at Israel from Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, stressing Tel Aviv's right to defend itself.

UNIFIL urged restraint and avoiding further escalation.

Jaber said: "No internal or external party, particularly the US, wants war."

“Israel does not want war, because any war could harm its oil and gas platforms,” he added.

*Ikram Kouachi contributed to this report.