Tensions rise on Lebanon border, but IDF insists 'quiet prevails'

The Israeli and Lebanese armies have deployed on both sides of the border in the Har Dov area, also known as Shaba Farms, the Lebanese news agency reported Tuesday. Lebanon reportedly raised its troops' level of alert and deployed armored personnel carriers opposite Israel Defense Forces positions near Kafr Shuba.

The IDF has put four tanks in the Har Dov area "in violation of United Nations resolutions," the news agency said, adding that Israel Air Force planes had made extensive overflights of South Lebanon in recent days.

Amid the reports of tension on Israel's northern border, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi tried to calm the atmosphere. During a visit Tuesday to the IDF's induction center at Tel Hashomer near Tel Aviv, Barak mentioned Hezbollah and the Lebanese government.

"I think they have good reason not to heat things up on the border," he said.

Lebanese observers argue that one of the causes of tension is a military post the IDF recently established on Har Dov. Israeli defense sources say this is only an earthen embankment and deny that fresh tanks have been stationed in the area, saying that they have been in the region all along.

Ashkenazi said that "we are following the situation on the northern border. In general, quiet prevails there and I am not aware of the existence of the winds of war in the region."

He added that "we are aware of the explosion of an arms warehouse in southern Lebanon, which proves our understanding that Hezbollah is keeping weapons in built-up areas. The matter is being handled by UNIFIL [United Nations peacekeeping troops]. The Lebanese government and [Israel] view the incident gravely, but do not expect the quiet to be broken in the region."

Despite the calming rhetoric, in speaking to new recruits Tuesday, Ashkenazi said that "the possibility that we will need to act soon is high, so get the most out of your training. You may specifically be put to the test." Ashkenazi, however, was not referring to the Lebanese front in particular.

Also Tuesday, a Lebanese member of parliament from the anti-Syrian coalition, Ahmed Fatfat, was irked that tensions had been created following the declarations by Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah comparing Dahia [a Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut] and Tel Aviv.

Earlier this week Nasrallah said that "if Israel attacks Dahia" again, as it did during the 2006 Lebanon war, then in the next confrontation Hezbollah will attack Tel Aviv. The Hezbollah leader said he believes Israel would take action in Lebanon by next spring.