Residents of the Lebanese capital of Beirut have expressed growing concern on social media over repeatedly being buzzed by Israeli warplanes.
UN observers in Lebanon claim that Israel violates the country’s airspace at least a dozen times a day, but that until recently most violations were perpetrated using drones.
It’s questionable whether or not these overnights should be categorized as violations of sovereignty in the normal sense, given that Israel and Lebanon are technically at war, and Jerusalem no doubt sees them as legitimate defensive actions.
Israeli military jets carried out several low flying flights over Beirut as reconnaissance drones also buzzed overhead Sunday in what has become a daily occurrence. https://t.co/H449cmHPFo pic.twitter.com/4DBcIfqG0G
— Atlantide (@Atlantide4world) January 10, 2021
According to regional reports, many Lebanese are worried that the overflights portend a major military action by US President Donald Trump before he leaves office.
They might not be far from the truth.
The reason for the increased Israeli aerial activity, and especially the growing number of warplanes entering Lebanese airspace, could have something to do with Iran’s vow to avenge the killing of Qassem Soleimani, the former head of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who was assassinated a year ago by the Americans.
It’s unlikely that Iran would provoke full-scale war with the United States by directly attacking American forces. A much safer course of action for Tehran would be giving Lebanon’s Hezbollah a green light to launch its missiles at Israel.
The Israeli overflights could be seen as a warning to Lebanese authorities that allowing Hezbollah to attack the Jewish state would have devastating consequences.
See related:
- Lebanon: Christian Cardinal Provokes Hezbollah
- ANALYSIS: Are Israel and Hezbollah on the Brink of War?
- IDF Spokesman Taunts Hezbollah Chief in Viral Arabic Tweet
- ANALYSIS: Lebanon in Dire Straits Because of Hezbollah
