The Israeli military said on Wednesday (Feb 14) that its fighter jets "began a series of strikes in Lebanon". Meanwhile, a Lebanese security source said on the same day that Israeli strikes in south Lebanon killed four civilians, including two children, and wounded several others.&nbsp;

As quoted by the Reuters news agency, the sources said that a woman and her two children were killed in the strike in the village of al-Sawana. Lebanon's powerful armed group Hezbollah said a strike on a separate town killed one of its fighters.&nbsp;

Hezbollah and the Israeli military had been exchanging fire for over four months when the Lebanese armed group fired rockets across the disputed border in support of Hamas, which launched a deadly attack on Israel on October 7.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-war-kyiv-claims-it-destroyed-russian-warship-in-black-sea-690162">VIDEO: Ukraine claims it destroyed another Russian warship in Black Sea</a>&nbsp;

This becomes a major concern as chances of war between Israel and Lebanon appear to have increased after months of cross-border fire as before the Israeli strikes, reports said that fire from Lebanon wounded multiple people in northern Israel, according to medics.&nbsp;

As reported by the news agencies, the Magen David Adom emergency service said that seven people were wounded, five of them in the town of Safed.&nbsp;

Although Hezbollah did not announce any operations on Wednesday, the head of its executive council said that Israel's attacks "cannot pass without a response".&nbsp;

But Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah said on Tuesday (Feb 13) that fire from southern Lebanon will end "when the attack on Gaza stops and there is a ceasefire" between Hamas and Israel.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iranian-pipelines-hit-in-act-of-terrorism-and-sabotage-gas-supply-disrupted-690236">Iranian pipelines hit in act of ‘terrorism and sabotage’, gas supply disrupted</a>&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Ilana Stein, who is an Israeli government spokesperson, told journalists that "numerous launches" were identified as coming from Lebanon on Wednesday morning. The strikes allegedly left one Israeli, a woman, dead and eight others hospitalised.&nbsp;

"As we have made clear time and time again, Israel is not interested in a war on two fronts. But if provoked, we will respond forcefully," she said.&nbsp;

"The current reality, where tens of thousands of Israelis are displaced and cannot return to their homes, is unbearable. They must be able to return home and live in peace and security," she said, further adding that the military responded to cross-border rocket fire from Lebanon.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Why is Israel planning a Rafah offensive and what would it mean?

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/why-is-israel-planning-a-rafah-offensive-and-what-would-it-mean-690276/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

After meeting with commanders along the Lebanon-Israel border, Israeli army chief Herzi Halevi stated that Israel's "next campaign will be very much on the offensive, and we will use all the tools and all capabilities".&nbsp;

"We are intensifying the strikes all the time, and Hezbollah are paying an increasingly heavy price," he said in a statement as reported by new agencies.&nbsp;

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The Israeli military said on Wednesday (Feb 14) that its fighter jets "began a series of strikes in Lebanon". Meanwhile, a Lebanese security source said on the same day that Israeli strikes in south Lebanon killed four civilians, including two children, and wounded several others.

The Israeli military said on Wednesday (Feb 14) that its fighter jets "began a series of strikes in Lebanon". Meanwhile, a Lebanese security source said on the same day that Israeli strikes in south Lebanon killed four civilians, including two children, and wounded several others. As quoted by the Reuters news agency, the sources said that a woman and her two children were killed in the strike in the village of al-Sawana. Lebanon's powerful armed group Hezbollah said a strike on a separate town killed one of its fighters. Hezbollah and the Israeli military had been exchanging fire for over four months when the Lebanese armed group fired rockets across the disputed border in support of Hamas, which launched a deadly attack on Israel on October 7. Also read: VIDEO: Ukraine claims it destroyed another Russian warship in Black Sea This becomes a major concern as chances of war between Israel and Lebanon appear to have increased after months of cross-border fire as before the Israeli strikes, reports said that fire from Lebanon wounded multiple people in northern Israel, according to medics. As reported by the news agencies, the Magen David Adom emergency service said that seven people were wounded, five of them in the town of Safed. Although Hezbollah did not announce any operations on Wednesday, the head of its executive council said that Israel's attacks "cannot pass without a response". But Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah said on Tuesday (Feb 13) that fire from southern Lebanon will end "when the attack on Gaza stops and there is a ceasefire" between Hamas and Israel. Also read: Iranian pipelines hit in act of ‘terrorism and sabotage’, gas supply disrupted Meanwhile, Ilana Stein, who is an Israeli government spokesperson, told journalists that "numerous launches" were identified as coming from Lebanon on Wednesday morning. The strikes allegedly left one Israeli, a woman, dead and eight others hospitalised. "As we have made clear time and time again, Israel is not interested in a war on two fronts. But if provoked, we will respond forcefully," she said. "The current reality, where tens of thousands of Israelis are displaced and cannot return to their homes, is unbearable. They must be able to return home and live in peace and security," she said, further adding that the military responded to cross-border rocket fire from Lebanon. Watch: Why is Israel planning a Rafah offensive and what would it mean? × After meeting with commanders along the Lebanon-Israel border, Israeli army chief Herzi Halevi stated that Israel's "next campaign will be very much on the offensive, and we will use all the tools and all capabilities". "We are intensifying the strikes all the time, and Hezbollah are paying an increasingly heavy price," he said in a statement as reported by new agencies. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel ‘begins series of strikes’ in Lebanon amid concerns over cross-border escalation

Ajay Bisaria, the former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, has underscored the gravity of the February 2019 developments when it comes to India-Pakistan ties, stating, "There was a distinct probability that India would escalate the situation if Pakistan had not returned the captured Indian pilot or if he had come to harm. That was certainly a point which was clearly made by India."

Following the Pulwama terror attack in 2019, India conducted surgical strikes on Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camps near Balakot, leading to a dogfight between Indian and Pakistani air forces and the subsequent capture and later release of Indian IAF Pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman by Pakistan.

Speaking to our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Bisaria further offered insights into the suggested path for Pakistan's interests, stating, "Pakistan's best bet for its own interest is to try to normalize the country." He has revealed several details of his tenure in Pakistan and ties between the two&nbsp;countries in his book "Anger Management". His book also gives account of Imran Khan's tenure and&nbsp;his view on India ties.&nbsp;

Here's the full interview:

Sidhant Sibal: Your tenure in Pakistan, India removing special status for J&amp;K, if you can talk about that..

Ajay Bisaria: Well, I think that was perhaps the most interesting part of my tenure, that is my exit from Pakistan because it came somewhat abruptly. I had done just about 20 months at that point in Pakistan, and with India's decisions on Article 370 and the decisions by our parliament, I was asked to leave, so I had a 72 hour notice period, and on the fifth of August I was called in by the Pakistani foreign secretary for a demarche about what India had done, and expressing a great deal of concern. And of course, my response was that this was internal to India, Pakistan had no local standi in this situation. But after a point of time, Pakistan seemed to be running out of options on what it could do to express its anger about what India had done. And therefore, the position it took&nbsp;was to ask the Indian High Commissioner to leave and I therefore left Pakistan somewhat abruptly in three days.

Sidhant Sibal: Pulwama in February 2019, how close India, Pakistan were&nbsp;at war or something that was very dangerous for the region.&nbsp;

Ajay Bisaria:&nbsp;I wouldn't say war, but we will certainly be at a stage where the crisis could have escalated beyond what it went. Fortunately it de-escalated and we did not have any ugly situation at that point of time, but there was a distinct probability that India would escalate the situation if Pakistan had not returned the captured Indian pilot or if he had come to harm. That was certainly a point which was clearly made by India.

Sidhant Sibal: So since 2014, India has had a consistent policy towards Pakistan, one that links cross border terrorism. Do you think that this policy is the policy that should be or there should be some opening when it comes to talks as well?

Ajay Bisaria:&nbsp;I think India is always open for peace and for talks and so was the case even after 2014. Because you need to remember that 2014 and 15, Prime Minister Modi met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif five times, the first time being even at the inauguration, the swearing in of Prime Minister Modi when Nawaz Sharif came and multiple meetings in the middle until Prime Minister Modi himself went to Pakistan in the end of 2015. So the deal breaker, which prevented this diplomacy from flowering, we had agreed at that point to have resumed dialogue, we were calling it a comprehensive dialogue, was terrorism. And I think that is the lesson that at least Pakistan must draw is that we come close to agreement to take forward matters, to do constructive diplomacy. India's leaders always take that initiative. But terrorism is a deal breaker. And you know it was exactly what happened. That 2016 was a terrible year in terms of terrorism, and that's why this relationship got frozen.

Sidhant Sibal: I can ask you to crystal-gaze when it &nbsp;comes to the India- Pakistan relationship. Do you think that there will be a time when there will be a normalization of the relationship?

Ajay Bisaria:&nbsp;I think I would look at it with cautious optimism. And if I was advising the Government of Pakistan or the Government of India, right now, I'm advising neither. I would say that Pakistan's best bet for its own interest is to try to normalize the country. And what would normalize mean , normalized would mean to reduce the hold of its army in the economy, to normalize the economy with economic reform, because that is the biggest danger to Pakistan, that it might just crumble as a state. It should normalize in the sense of not using terrorism as a weapon of state policy because this is what has made Pakistan's international reputation terrible and has many economic implications for it. So I think India will be happy to engage with a normalizing Pakistan and on India's side, India needs the strategic patience and the calibration to be able to deal with Pakistan's terrorism with force, but also have the flexibility to engage and understand Pakistan, particularly when it becomes hopefully more coherent as a policy unit, after the Pakistan elections.

Sidhant Sibal: So my final question to you is any anecdote you would like to share with our viewers, something that is a story that touched you and moved you in Pakistan?&nbsp;

Ajay Bisaria:&nbsp;Well, there are multiple stories and many of them find mentioned in my book, and these are not just my stories, but those of many of my predecessors and I think what is very heartwarming in Pakistan is that despite the hostility, it can melt away in the evening over music and over, so I hosted at my residence in Pakistan several times, several evenings of music. And when our people, cultural artists from India didn't get permission, I would invite some singers from Lahore who were as good and as familiar with the same music as the songs of Lata Mangeshkar or Kishore Kumar and they would sing them. So I think that's what gives us hope in this relationship, that there is a lot of latent goodwill, also in the relationship apart from the ill.

Ajay Bisaria, the former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, has underscored the gravity of the February 2019 developments when it comes to India-Pakistan ties, stating, "There was a distinct probability that India would escalate the situation if Pakistan had not returned the captured Indian pilot or if he had come to harm.

Ajay Bisaria, the former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, has underscored the gravity of the February 2019 developments when it comes to India-Pakistan ties, stating, "There was a distinct probability that India would escalate the situation if Pakistan had not returned the captured Indian pilot or if he had come to harm. That was certainly a point which was clearly made by India." Following the Pulwama terror attack in 2019, India conducted surgical strikes on Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camps near Balakot, leading to a dogfight between Indian and Pakistani air forces and the subsequent capture and later release of Indian IAF Pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman by Pakistan. Speaking to our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Bisaria further offered insights into the suggested path for Pakistan's interests, stating, "Pakistan's best bet for its own interest is to try to normalize the country." He has revealed several details of his tenure in Pakistan and ties between the two countries in his book "Anger Management". His book also gives account of Imran Khan's tenure and his view on India ties. Here's the full interview: Sidhant Sibal: Your tenure in Pakistan, India removing special status for J&K, if you can talk about that.. Ajay Bisaria: Well, I think that was perhaps the most interesting part of my tenure, that is my exit from Pakistan because it came somewhat abruptly. I had done just about 20 months at that point in Pakistan, and with India's decisions on Article 370 and the decisions by our parliament, I was asked to leave, so I had a 72 hour notice period, and on the fifth of August I was called in by the Pakistani foreign secretary for a demarche about what India had done, and expressing a great deal of concern. And of course, my response was that this was internal to India, Pakistan had no local standi in this situation. But after a point of time, Pakistan seemed to be running out of options on what it could do to express its anger about what India had done. And therefore, the position it took was to ask the Indian High Commissioner to leave and I therefore left Pakistan somewhat abruptly in three days. Sidhant Sibal: Pulwama in February 2019, how close India, Pakistan were at war or something that was very dangerous for the region. Ajay Bisaria: I wouldn't say war, but we will certainly be at a stage where the crisis could have escalated beyond what it went. Fortunately it de-escalated and we did not have any ugly situation at that point of time, but there was a distinct probability that India would escalate the situation if Pakistan had not returned the captured Indian pilot or if he had come to harm. That was certainly a point which was clearly made by India. Sidhant Sibal: So since 2014, India has had a consistent policy towards Pakistan, one that links cross border terrorism. Do you think that this policy is the policy that should be or there should be some opening when it comes to talks as well? Ajay Bisaria: I think India is always open for peace and for talks and so was the case even after 2014. Because you need to remember that 2014 and 15, Prime Minister Modi met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif five times, the first time being even at the inauguration, the swearing in of Prime Minister Modi when Nawaz Sharif came and multiple meetings in the middle until Prime Minister Modi himself went to Pakistan in the end of 2015. So the deal breaker, which prevented this diplomacy from flowering, we had agreed at that point to have resumed dialogue, we were calling it a comprehensive dialogue, was terrorism. And I think that is the lesson that at least Pakistan must draw is that we come close to agreement to take forward matters, to do constructive diplomacy. India's leaders always take that initiative. But terrorism is a deal breaker. And you know it was exactly what happened. That 2016 was a terrible year in terms of terrorism, and that's why this relationship got frozen. Sidhant Sibal: I can ask you to crystal-gaze when it comes to the India- Pakistan relationship. Do you think that there will be a time when there will be a normalization of the relationship? Ajay Bisaria: I think I would look at it with cautious optimism. And if I was advising the Government of Pakistan or the Government of India, right now, I'm advising neither. I would say that Pakistan's best bet for its own interest is to try to normalize the country. And what would normalize mean , normalized would mean to reduce the hold of its army in the economy, to normalize the economy with economic reform, because that is the biggest danger to Pakistan, that it might just crumble as a state. It should normalize in the sense of not using terrorism as a weapon of state policy because this is what has made Pakistan's international reputation terrible and has many economic implications for it. So I think India will be happy to engage with a normalizing Pakistan and on India's side, India needs the strategic patience and the calibration to be able to deal with Pakistan's terrorism with force, but also have the flexibility to engage and understand Pakistan, particularly when it becomes hopefully more coherent as a policy unit, after the Pakistan elections. Sidhant Sibal: So my final question to you is any anecdote you would like to share with our viewers, something that is a story that touched you and moved you in Pakistan? Ajay Bisaria: Well, there are multiple stories and many of them find mentioned in my book, and these are not just my stories, but those of many of my predecessors and I think what is very heartwarming in Pakistan is that despite the hostility, it can melt away in the evening over music and over, so I hosted at my residence in Pakistan several times, several evenings of music. And when our people, cultural artists from India didn't get permission, I would invite some singers from Lahore who were as good and as familiar with the same music as the songs of Lata Mangeshkar or Kishore Kumar and they would sing them. So I think that's what gives us hope in this relationship, that there is a lot of latent goodwill, also in the relationship apart from the ill.

'India would have escalated situation if Abhinandan wasn't released': Ex-Indian envoy to Pak tells WION

North Korea has fired a missile over Japan, in what appears to be a deliberate escalation to get the attention of both Japan and the U.S.

North Korea fires a missile over Japan in a deliberate escalation?

escalation

Escalation, News on Escalation, stories on Escalation, articles on Escalation, Escalation stories at Wion, Escalation news, Escalation latest news