The Lebanese Army and U.N. peacekeepers intensified their patrols along the Blue Line on the border with Israel Monday as tensions mounted over Israel’s weekend strike on Syria’s Golan Heights which killed six Hezbollah members and a senior Iranian commander.
Security sources told The Daily Star that international troops, backing Lebanese soldiers, have been closely monitoring movements on both sides of the volatile border with night goggles and binoculars.
Movement in the Jewish settlement of Metulla, just a few miles from the Lebanese border, appeared to be very shy Monday morning, while only Israeli soldiers were seen patrolling the inner streets, reflecting fears of Hezbollah reprisals, the sources said.
On the Lebanese side, activities were normal, as residents of border villages went about their businesses, students attended schools and farmers tended to their fields.
Construction worker Hussein Jomaa from the village of Wazzani shrugged off fears that a Hezbollah reprisal might ignite a new conflict in the area.
“We are not afraid. As you see we are continuing construction work just a few kilometers from the Israelis,” Jomaa told The Daily Star.
Sunday’s Israeli strike on the Golan killed six Hezbollah members, including the son of slain Hezbollah top commander Imad Mughnieh, and senior Iranian field commander Abu Ali Tabtabai.
