Tensions are rising dangerously on Israel’s border with Lebanon, where ongoing clashes between the Lebanese Hezbollah group and the Israeli army fuel concerns of a local escalation of the war between Israel and Hamas.

Israel said today that it does not want a war on its border with Lebanon but on the Lebanese-Israeli border, exchanges of fire from both sides of the border and attempts to infiltrate Israel by armed Palestinian allies of Hezbollah are increasing.

Read about: Israel attacks Hezbollah military infrastructure in Lebanon.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility in a statement for a new attack in the Hanita area of ​​northern Israel with guided missiles, saying it caused casualties among “enemy ranks.”

At the same time, Hamas’ armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, announced that it had fired 20 rockets from Lebanon at two Jewish settlements.

“We are not interested in a war in the north, we do not want an escalation of the situation,” said Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallad, clarifying, however, that “if Hezbollah chooses the path of war, it will pay a very heavy price.”

Tehran, Hezbollah’s sponsor and ally, also issued a warning today against a possible “expansion of the conflict”.

Concerns about a new front with Hezbollah’s entry into the war

The increase in tension creates fears of opening a new front with the entry of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah into the conflictwhich can drag Lebanon into war as well.

In fact, Iran’s foreign minister warned today that “if the Zionist attacks do not stop, the hands of all sides in the region are on the trigger.”

Faced with the specter of a generalized conflagration, appeals are multiplying from all sides for Lebanon, a country exhausted by wars with Israel and a deep social and economic crisis – to stay on the sidelines of the conflict.

THE Washington expressed concern about “escalation” and “possible Iranian involvement” while has warned Hezbollah against making a ‘bad decision’.

France yesterday called on Hezbollah and Iran to show restraint to avoid opening a new front in the region.

In the early days of the conflict, Hezbollah’s intervention remained fairly limited. But many analysts believe that an Israeli ground invasion of the Gaza Strip could trigger Hezbollah’s intervention.

Who is Hezbollah?

Hezbollah (“Party of God” in Arabic) is a Shia extremist Islamic paramilitary and political organization based in Lebanon. It is supported financially by Iran, while political support is also provided by Syria.

Its armed units were organized and trained by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.

The armed wing of the organization is considered a resistance movement in the Arab world, while the US, the Netherlands, the UK, Australia, Canada and Israel classify it as a terrorist organization.