Hezbollah says no casualties in Israeli raid

Monday’s airstrike resulted in material damage, says Hezbollah, while promising to respond at an appropriate time.

Bekaa Valley Map

Hezbollah has put out a statement regarding Monday night’s raids by Israeli aircraft that hit an area near the border town of Nabi Sheet in the Bekaa Valley, alongside the Syrian border.

Hezbollah denied local reports that the Israeli army targeted missile or rocket bases, reported Al Manar TV on Wednesday. However, it did say that the Israeli airstrike was carried out with drones and resulted in material damage, but there were no casualties. 

In satement Hezbollah said Israel’s “aggression won’t go unnoticed and that the resistance will choose the time and place and the appropriate means to respond”.

Residents told AFP news agency they saw flares light up the sky ahead of the raids, which shook their houses. They said they heard planes flying low and that the target appeared to be a Hezbollah position in the nearby mountains.

Israeli officials from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu down refrained from commenting specifically on Monday night’s raid although they confirmed a policy of interdiction of suspected arms deliveries to Hezbollah. 

“We are doing everything that is necessary in order to defend the security of Israel,” Netanyahu said on Tuesday.

“We will not say what we’re doing or what we’re not doing.”

The commander of Haifa naval base on Israel’s northern coast told the Haaretz newspaper that Hezbollah was trying to procure sophisticated arms.

“The major players in the arena are active and relevant. Hezbollah has not stopped for a second to try and get its hands on advanced weaponry,” Brigadier General Eli Sharvit was quoted as saying.

Source: News Agencies