Shit!

Three rockets were fired into Israel from Lebanon in the north.  Israel responded with five mortar shells.  

This comes after Lebanese Information Minister Tarek Mitri told reporters the other day he did not think Hizbullah would fire at this time.  

He did say that Hizbullah was not involved and some in Israeli intelligence believe it is the work of Palestinian groups in the region.  Border patrols have been stepped up by UN, Israeli and Lebanese forces.  

The Daily Star says that Hizbullah has more than 40,000 rockets "ready to be fired at Israel," should the situation escalate.  Some feel that Israel's mortar response could push Hizbullah -- whether they fired or not -- into a response.  

Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah sounded a defiant tone towards Israel and declared that "all options are on the table."

Despite the fierce talk, I don't foresee armed conflict between Israel and Hizbullah right now. The situation in Gaza is probably weakening Israeli forces to a far weaker extent than would prevent them from leveling southern Lebanon should the need arise, and Hizbullah and Lebanon in general probably know this.