Lebanese army suffering casualties despite not being directly involved in conflict with Israel
While there are efforts to bring about a ceasefire and the Lebanese army is expected to play a central role in implementing any ceasefire deal, there were two Israeli attacks.
Last night, an Israeli strike hit an army position in the town of Sarafand in southern Lebanon, killing three soldiers. The army says this was a deliberate attack.
A short while ago, the army announced the death of one more soldier. The military vehicles came under Israeli fire on the Marjaayoun road, very close to the border.
It is not the first time the Lebanese army has been hit in the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. It has lost more than 40 men in recent months despite the army not being directly involved in the conflict.
It is staying on the sidelines for a number of reasons, even though it calls Israel the enemy. First of all, the Lebanese army is weak. It has not responded to any of these Israeli attacks on its troops. Hezbollah is a much stronger force.
Secondly, there are many political considerations, because Hezbollah’s decision to open up a front against Israel in support of Gaza is a divisive decision here and the army is split along political and sectarian lines.
