There have been minor, periodic clashes in the border area between Lebanon and Israel since the Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000, so this report is not necessarily a new development. Typically, these clashes are either caused by localized incidents between the soldiers on respective sides or are used by both sides as a warning signal to the other side of sustained intent to secure disputed areas like Shebaa farms.

However, with the current volatility in Lebanon, there is the fear that Hizbollah (see logo) is now muscle-flexing in preparation for becoming the dominant military (and possibly, political) force in Lebanon now that Syria is gone. It may feel like it is showing Israel that, when it is in charge of all of Lebanon (which Hizbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah likely believes will soon be the case), Israel should not believe Hizbollah will be any less committed to the border conflict than it currently is.

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