IDF Vehicle Comes Under Fire yesterday on Lebanon Border, 15 Israeli Soldiers Killed

Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for an attack on an Israeli military convoy on the Lebanese-Israeli border, the militant group said in a statement Wednesday.

Moments ago mortars hit a military position on Mt. Hermon. The IDF closed the site and is evacuating civilians from the area.
— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 28, 2015

 An Israel Defense Force (IDF) vehicle was struck by an anti-tank missile near the Lebanese border Wednesday morning, killing 15 Israeli soldiers inside, Sputnik Arabic News Service reports.
The IDF is said to have responded with artillery fire, at least 30 shells were fired back. IDF forces searched the area near Har Dov following the incident, the Daily Star says.

Following Hezbollah attacks earlier today, the IDF responded with combined aerial and ground strikes at Hezbollah operational positions.
— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) January 28, 2015

Other explosions were heard nearby and local residents were told to stay in their homes, Jerusalem Post says.

HAPPENING NOW: IDF Forces continue shelling towards targets in Lebanon following anti-missile and mortar attacks. pic.twitter.com/YfMJHePJqj
— Israel News Feed (@IsraelHatzolah) January 28, 2015

“All residents are asked to return to their homes and to close all doors and windows until further notice,” said the IDF’s Home Front Command, as cited by the Times of Israel.


An Israeli soldier guards an Iron Dome air defense system deployed in the Israeli controlled Golan Heights near the border with Syria, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that the country’s army is responding to an attack on its border with Lebanon. “Israel will respond with force to the attacks on Shabaa farms,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

My Dad just called me from Dan in northern Israel to say the area has been evacuated. Could hear explosions in the background.
— Sarah Marshall (@SarahMarshall) January 28, 2015

Netanyahu threatened that last summer's destruction of large areas of the Gaza Strip by Israeli military is an example of what could happen to an aggressor.

Earlier this morning, it was reported that the IDF launched a strike on Syrian Army artillery posts in response to four rockets that were fired on Tuesday at Israeli territory. According to Israel’s Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon the area that the IDF targeted was under control of Bashar Assad’s regime, Haaretz reports.

“The IDF holds the Syrian government accountable for all attacks emanating from its land, and will operate by any means necessary to defend Israeli civilians. Such blatant breaches of Israeli sovereignty will not be tolerated,” the IDF statement said, as cited by Haaretz.