New Delhi: Even as its strikes on Gaza continued on Thursday, Israel appears to be inching towards war with its neighbours.
Israel bombed and shelled southern Lebanon and sent ground troops over the border for the first time in six years on Wednesday after Hezbollah militants captured two Israeli soldiers.
The air strikes followed the killing of eight of its soldiers by Hezbollah.
All that's missing in Israel's current air strikes on Lebanon is a formal declaration of war. But clearly Hezbollah's killing of eight Israeli soldiers and the capture of two near the Lebanes border has hit Israel hard.
Retaliation was immediate with Israeli air strikes on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, which destroyed key bridges and parts of the Beirut International Airport. As many as 27 people have been killed and 16 injured.
Hezbollah replied, by firing 60 Katyusha rockets in the Nahariya area. However, no injuries were reported.
Israel has also continued its offensive operations in the Gaza Strip destroying the office of the Palestinian foreign minister.
"Hezbollah has to pay the price for its aggression. It was an unprovoked aggression," said Gideon Meir, a spokesperson for the Israeli Government.
Israel says Lebanon is responsible for the safety of the Israeli prisoners. But Hezbollah is a key player in Lebanese politics and it's not clear what pressure the Lebanese government can bring to bear on them.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said his organisation is ready to free the Israelis in exchange for Hezbollah prisoners but Tel Aviv is not ready to negotiate.
"On Wednesday night, the Government decided two things – to call the Lebanon Government to be responsible and to prevent Hizbollah from continuing with their provocation and attacks against our army," Israeli vice-premier Shimon Peres said on Thursday.
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