Lebanon
Fireworks and ammonium nitrate probably behind Lebanon blast, say experts
The orange clouds after the blast were likely from toxic nitrogen dioxide released after an explosion that includes nitrates.
“The event in Lebanon illustrates the danger of having concentrations of hazardous materials near a dense population center,” says Revital Goldschmidt of Haifa’s Environmental Research Center.
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin: “We share the pain of the Lebanese people” • UNIFIL personnel wounded in blast to be treated in Tzfat.
Israel has denied any involvement in the explosion at the port, though there has been speculation that the blast could have been caused by explosive materials stored by Hezbollah.
According to Syrian media reports, cell was acting on behalf of Iranian militia • IAF hits Hamas targets in Gaza after rocket fired at Sderot.
“It [Hezbollah] wants to promote some action that will be considered a retaliatory action to preserve its deterrence, and at the same time contain its response so that it will not cause deterioration into a wider conflict in which it is not currently interested,” said Orna Mizrahi, a senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies.
Terror-cell operatives may be searching for weak spots along the northern border with Lebanon; Israel sends extra forces as a message to back down.
The Israel Defense Forces has sent in reinforcements to its border with Lebanon ahead of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.
“We will do whatever is necessary to defend ourselves and I suggest that Hezbollah consider this simple fact,” says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israel is trying to “change the rules of engagement,” says Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab.
The terror organization denied that it carried out an attack on Israel, and that it still plans to avenge the death of one of its members.
“No injuries to IDF troops were reported. We continue to stand ready to defend Israel’s border from any enemy threat,” according to a statement by the Israel Defense Forces.
