Israel Bombs Lebanon
by Stephen Lendman
Sunday reports indicate an Israeli warplane bombed a remote Lebanese Bekaa region to destroy one of its drones apparently downed.
An IDF spokeswoman declined to comment. A Lebanese security source said it's not entirely clear what happened "but most probably it was an Israeli airstrike to destroy its downed drone" - whether because of mechanical failure or by Hezbollah isn't known.
America, its rogue NATO partners and Israel unilaterally or together bomb other nations in blatant violation of international law.
The latest Israeli incident may be nothing more than what's reported. At minimum, it reflects illegal Israel surveillance or other unauthorized flights over a sovereign nation as well as bombing its territory - whatever the reason.
None are acceptable. Multiple Israeli violations of Lebanese air space occurs daily. Israeli warplanes bomb Syria and its border areas with Lebanon at its discretion - for any contrived reason it chooses. These are lawless belligerent acts short of full-scale war. More on this below.
Mossad is notorious for carrying out targeted assassinations - numerous times throughout Israel's history. In recent years alone, car bombings and other means were used against Palestinian, Hezbollah and other officials regionally. In 2004, Israel killed Yasser Arafat by polonium poisoning.
In 2005, Mossad agents murdered former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri - a car bombing incident falsely blamed on Hezbollah after first wrongfully holding Syria responsible.
Three Gaza wars since December 2008 took a terrible toll on its 1.8 million population, still struggling in rubble to recover while illegally blockaded.
Subjugating the entire Palestinian population under brutal military occupation for decades is a major high crime with no justification whatever.
Lebanon has the misfortune of bordering Israel - attacked by IDF forces in 1978, 1982, 1996 and 2006. Its 4.5 million people face the threat of more war at Israel's discretion for whatever contrived reason it invents.
Its Sheba Farms and Ghajar territory remain illegally occupied. Israeli warplanes and drones provocatively violate its airspace multiple times daily. Its been victimized by numerous Israeli terrorist attacks.
In July 2006, Israel launched naked aggression for contrived reasons - committing major crimes of war and against humanity. It waged collective, disproportionate punishment against large parts of its population - targeting military and non-military sites.
It killed over 1,000, injured thousands more and displaced one-fourth of its population. Beirut, Tyre, Sidon, and other Lebanon cities and towns were terror bombed.
Targets destroyed or damaged included major ports, Beirut International Airport, 70 bridges, dozens of key roads, electrical power plants, gas and fuel stations, factories, schools, radio and TV stations, mosques, churches, hospitals, dams, civil defense centers, Sidon's refugee camp, an orphanage, and civilian neighborhoods.
Jiyeh's utility plant south of Beirut was struck - causing a massive oil spill affecting over 90 miles of coastal waters. It threatened biodiversity and heightened the risk of cancer for many thousands of Lebanese.
A land, sea and air siege was imposed. Illegal terror weapons were used - including chemical agents.
Does Israel have another Lebanon war in mind? It failed to defeat Hezbollah in 2006. Its fighters embarrassed IDF forces in ground conflict. Israel doesn't forget or forgive.
Sunday's incident may be no more than what was reported. Given longstanding Israeli aggression against targeted adversaries, anything ahead is possible - perhaps joint US/Israeli full-scale naked aggression against Syria and Lebanon's Hezbollah.
The region already is embroiled with US-initiated conflicts. Attacking Syria and Lebanon could be prelude to targeting Iran and setting it all ablaze.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at
lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."
http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.
Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.
It airs three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programs.