Israel's Two-front War?

Rockets fired from southern Lebanon into northern Israel raises fears Israel’s war on Gaza is spreading.

Hello I’m Charlotte Bellis and you’re watching Newsy.com.

At least three Katyusha rockets landed in the Nahariya area of Israel wounding two Israelis. Who was behind the assault is unknown but Israel responded firing artillery shells into southern Lebanon.

We’re following coverage of who launched this attack from FOX, U.K’s the Telegraph, NBC, Lebanon Now, Arab Eastern and others.

FOX has a correspondent in Nahariya, who demonstrates where one of the rockets hit.

“There were no fatalities Megan but there were some injuries and as you can imagine some people suffered from shock. It hit right on this roof that I’m sitting on here…For now the worry is of course as you mentioned that this could open up a northern front in this war.” (FOX News)

U.K’s the Telegraph has Israel’s response to the surprise attack.

"The Israeli army immediately struck back, firing five artillery rounds across the border into the town of Tair Harfa…. This relatively low-key response, described as “pinpoint” and targeted on the “source of the fire”, indicates that Israel has no desire to escalate the situation.” (UK Telegraph)

While no one is certain who fired the rockets into Israel, MSNBC’s Richard Engel has Israel’s thoughts on who attacked them.

“Israel believes the rockets were fired by a Palestinian group in Lebanon, in solidarity with the Hamas fighters in the Gaza Strip. Israel does not believe they were launched by the Lebanese militia group Hezbollah…The Israel government has said it will not be baited by the actions of a small Palestinian group.” (TODAY SHOW)

A past Israeli enemy, Hezbollah outwardly denied an involvement in the rocket attack.
Lebanon Now had a report from AFP of Hezbollah saying,

GFX
“Hezbollah is not aware of the rocket attack. Everyone knows that Hezbollah does not shy away from claiming responsibility for it’s actions.” (Now Lebanon)

FOX News has the view that politically, Hezbollah can’t afford to start a fight with Israel.  

“I don’t think they want to do it because they also have elections coming up here in Lebanon in June and should they get involved in a war, be drawn into a war, they’re obviously going to lose some of their support.” (FOX News)

But according to Israeli newspaper, Haaretz, Hezbollah could easily have had a hand in the attacks.

“It is safe to assume that Palestinian operatives, working in coordination with Hezbollah and sponsored by Iran, are responsible for the rocket attacks in Nahariya and elsewhere in the north. The rocket fire also places Hezbollah leader Has-sin Nas-rall-ah among the list of top Arab militant leaders. He doesn’t just talk, he acts.” (Haaretz)

And the day before the attack, Nasrallah was talking, talking to tens of thousands of Hezbollah supporters at a rally in Beirut. Arab Eastern.com reports Nasrallah’s comments at the event…

“I say to Olmert, the loser, the vanquished in Lebanon that you cannot overcome Hamas or Hezbollah. Your 2006 war will be but a walk in the park compared to what we have prepared for you in the event of a new offensive….We will not abandon the fight or our weapons.” (Arab Eastern)

MidEast on Target has the perspective that the war in Gaza has caught the Hezbollah chief on the horns of a dilemma.

“Witnessing the drubbing his Sunni ally in Gaza is taking from the IDF, he has little inclination to subject his fighters to a similar fate.  Conversely, after years of taunting Israel and prodding Hamas to do the same, he risks scorn and ridicule from his terrorist allies if he decides to stay safely on the sidelines.” (Mideast on Target)

So who do you think was behind the rocket attacks on northern Israel? Do you think it was an isolated incident or the beginning of new conflict?

We’d love to hear your thoughts on this story and be sure to check out our sources.

I’m Charlotte Bellis …