Furious fighting is ratcheting up the risk of all-out war on the Israel-Lebanon border

The gunfire rang long and loud.

furious fighting is ratcheting up the risk of all-out war on the israel-lebanon border

Mourners carry the coffin of one of the women who was killed

We watched as angry and tearful men fired into the air chanting death threats against Israel and America in Deir Qanoun En Nahr in southern Lebanon.

Ambulance sirens wailed and crowds of young Lebanese female medics stood holding pictures of their colleague, their faces creased in pain and sorrow.

We've been to many funerals recently. This was the ceremony for two civilians, both women - one a mother, the other an emergency medic in her twenties.

furious fighting is ratcheting up the risk of all-out war on the israel-lebanon border

Colleagues of Sally Skeiky attend the funeral

They are the latest civilian victims to be killed in Israeli border attacks.

furious fighting is ratcheting up the risk of all-out war on the israel-lebanon border

Grieving relatives hold a photo of killed medic Sally Skeiky

There's terror on the other side of the border too, in Israel, with a marked escalation in the quantity and range of attacks from the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group, Hezbollah.

The increasingly furious and dangerous skirmishes on the Lebanese-Israeli border are becoming deeper in territory and longer in range and the odds of all-out war in the region have correspondingly shortened.

furious fighting is ratcheting up the risk of all-out war on the israel-lebanon border

Ambulance workers at the funeral

The situation has become so alarming that the two top United Nations officials in Lebanon have warned they are deeply concerned about the recent clashes along the southern border.

furious fighting is ratcheting up the risk of all-out war on the israel-lebanon border

Family members gather at the medic's grave

The weekend statement from the UN Special Co-ordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, and Aroldo Lazaro, the head of the UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon, warned: "The danger of miscalculation leading to a sudden and wider conflict is very real."

And they urged "all actors to cease their fire and commit to working toward a political and diplomatic solution".

Right now, though, neither side seems willing to back down while reiterating they don't want war but they're ready for it.

And it seems the communities suffering on both sides are encouraging this approach.

furious fighting is ratcheting up the risk of all-out war on the israel-lebanon border

Around 90,000 people have had to flee their homes in northern Israel while Lebanese authorities say 100,000 have been displaced from the southern border.

They're angry, homeless and they want their lives back. They want to return.

Netanyahu 'dissolves war cabinet'

Mother of freed hostage feared the worst

Eight Israeli soldiers killed inside Gaza

'She was my only daughter'

The Lebanese father of 25-year-old medic Sally Skeiky told us by his daughter's grave in Deir Qanoun En Nahr that he wanted revenge, too.

furious fighting is ratcheting up the risk of all-out war on the israel-lebanon border

US envoy Amos Hochstein in Lebanon earlier this year. File pic: Reuters

"I believe her death is a necessary sacrifice," Hussein Skeiky told us.

"She was my only daughter. But everyone thinks about this… what can we do? My country needs us now."

He went on to voice what many Lebanese people feel.

"I want to remove our enemy [Israel] from this country. This enemy beside us is very dangerous… we need to remove him from here. There are people now making the fight with our enemy and we want to help them."

"Do you mean revenge?" I asked him.

"Yes," he replied.

'Increasing aggression' bringing region 'to the brink'

In Israel too, those forced out of their homes - after Hezbollah opened up a second front following the Hamas attacks last October - are pressurising the authorities to secure the border.

The cross-border escalation prompted senior Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesman Daniel Hagari to say on Sunday: "Since deciding to join the war that Hamas started on 7 October Hezbollah has fired over 5,000 rockets; anti-tank missiles and explosive UAVs from Lebanon at Israeli families, homes, and communities."

And he went on to warn: "Hezbollah's increasing aggression is bringing us to the brink of what could be a wider escalation - one that could have devastating consequences for Lebanon and the entire region."

And that is what the US envoy Amos Hochstein is flying into.

Mr Hochstein is an experienced negotiator and has been working behind the scenes for months now - trying to de-escalate tensions.

But he has his work cut out for him.

He flew into the region as news emerged of another Hezbollah commander killed in an IDF strike on a car near the southern Lebanese town of Tyre on Monday.

It comes on the heels of the worst week of skirmishes on the Israeli-Lebanon border since the start of the Gaza war in October.

The IDF killing of the most senior Hezbollah commander since October led to furious retaliation by Hezbollah who fired hundreds of rockets and drones into Israeli villages and towns - the most in a single day since October.

Analysts and experts have until now banked on both Hezbollah and the Israelis fearing they had far more to lose than to gain by all-out war.

Now they're not so sure.

With reporting from cameraman Jake Britton, specialist producer Chris Cunningham and Lebanon producer Jihad Jneid.

OTHER NEWS

11 minutes ago

Health care just as important as economy. What experts want Biden and Trump to address.

11 minutes ago

LGBTQ elders struggle with health care, housing and isolation

11 minutes ago

Jury deliberations continue in Karen Read murder trial: Latest updates

11 minutes ago

Field hockey at the 2024 Olympics in Paris explained: Scoring, format, history

11 minutes ago

Houston steakhouse Perry’s celebrates 45 years with $44 four-course dining special

11 minutes ago

Messi, Argentina will play their Copa America quarterfinal in Texas. But where is the question still to be answered.

11 minutes ago

London police drop charges for driver who had seizure and plowed into a school, killing 2 children

11 minutes ago

20-year-old injured in potential shark attack in Hawaii

11 minutes ago

British police say the driver of a 4x4 that plowed into a school, killing 2 children, will face no criminal charges

11 minutes ago

Driver who crashed into Wimbledon school killing two girls will not face charges after having epileptic fit

11 minutes ago

Suffragette Emmeline Pankurst would be troubled by rise of misogynistic influencers, great granddaughter says

11 minutes ago

Taking multivitamins regularly is not linked to a lower risk of death – study

11 minutes ago

Sunny Hostin says Jennifer Lopez flying coach to France ‘humanized’ her

11 minutes ago

Who will be NHL MVP? Awards to be handed out Thursday

11 minutes ago

Alex Morgan doesn't make USWNT roster for Paris Olympics

11 minutes ago

England's Foden temporarily returns to UK for family matter, FA says

11 minutes ago

Coman, Hagi come into Romania team to play Slovakia

11 minutes ago

Boxing-Britons Joshua and Dubois to fight for IBF heavyweight belt in September

11 minutes ago

Kenya president backs down on tax rises after deadly protests

11 minutes ago

La Liga boss Javier Tebas preparing to mount legal challenge to Club World Cup

15 minutes ago

Michael Jackson's son Prince shares heartbreaking message on 15th anniversary of his death

16 minutes ago

‘Tulsa King’ Sets Season 2 Premiere Date; Sylvester Stallone Is Behind Bars In First Trailer

16 minutes ago

‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour’ Director Sam Wrench Launches Next Of Kin Content With EverWonder Studio

16 minutes ago

Universal Says Proposed UK Theme Park & Resort Will Give $53B Boost To Country’s Economy

16 minutes ago

Chaos as both Coronation Street and Emmerdale are pulled in schedule shake-up

16 minutes ago

Phil Foden temporarily leaves England squad and returns home due to ‘pressing family matter'

16 minutes ago

Bird flu spreads to eighth Victorian egg farm

16 minutes ago

London’s Tube network hit by severe delays on multiple lines

16 minutes ago

DA Bragg lets protesters off the hook: Letters to the Editor — June 26, 2024

16 minutes ago

Rivian soars as Volkswagen plows $5B into struggling EV maker: ‘Game changer’

16 minutes ago

How could I back anyone but the SNP and the bolshie, buoyant Scotland it stands for?

16 minutes ago

"I had to guard Kevin Garnett in practice" - Brian Scalabrine talks about taking on guys who thought they could beat him one one-on-one

16 minutes ago

OG Anunoby Makes Knicks Contract Decision Amid 76ers Rumors

16 minutes ago

Federal government ends cod moratorium in Newfoundland after more than 30 years

16 minutes ago

Bengals rookie Jermaine Burton hyped nationally after strong debut

16 minutes ago

Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons shoppers warned over car park 'age limit'

16 minutes ago

Lock in a two-year savings rate now before rates tumble in August, experts warn

16 minutes ago

UK Election: Comfortable Labour Win Even If We Have 'Biggest Polling Mistake Ever,' Menon Says

16 minutes ago

Video: Inside a remote small town and its $1.5 billion big factory as they both fight for survival - and its a battle being played out across the US

16 minutes ago

Video: New Jersey mother Naomi Elkins drowns daughters aged one and three in bathtub, cops say