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Dozens of Israeli cows accidentally crossed into Lebanon through a gap in the border fence near the towns of Ramyah and Ayta ash Shab in the south of the country. The entry of the cows into Lebanon led to conspiracy theories among extremist Jews, as they believe 'the red heifer' might refer to 'end-times.'
The Lebanese authorities expressed concern over potential biological threats, including the risk of disease or the presence of biological weapons.
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) forces are currently working to return the cattle.
Conflicting reports emerged over whether the Israeli army had intentionally allowed the cows to cross toward the Lebanese towns of Ramyah and Aita al-Shaab through the Khallat Wardeh area, or whether the animals had wandered in accidentally through gaps in the border fence—reportedly created by Israeli forces for nighttime incursions into Lebanese territory.
Videos shared on social media showed locals capturing some of the stray cows.
The state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported that "a herd of cows entered Lebanese territory from occupied Palestine and reached the towns of Aita al-Shaab and al-Qouzah."
The agency noted that "Israeli forces are in contact with UNIFIL to retrieve the cows, which reportedly entered Aita al-Shaab by mistake through gaps in the border fence—gaps created by the Israeli military and often used for nighttime incursions into Lebanese land."
The mayor of Beit Lif, Izzat Hammoud, issued a warning urging residents to avoid approaching the cows that entered the area, citing the "possibility that they may be contaminated with biological weapons or carry infectious diseases."
In an official statement, he stressed "the need for extreme caution and avoiding any contact with the animals, as a precautionary measure, until the circumstances of their entry into Lebanese territory are clarified."
Amid growing concerns over the accidental entry of Israeli cattle into southern Lebanon, some observers have recalled an ancient religious motif rooted in Jewish and Christian tradition: the Red Heifer.
The Red Heifer (parah adumah in Hebrew) was the cow whose ashes were used in the purification rites for one who had been contaminated through having come into contact with a corpse.
The ritual is detailed in Numbers 19:1-22, which is in the Torah known as Chukat.
According to biblical tradition, the Red Heifer—a flawless, entirely red cow—was to be sacrificed outside the camp, and its ashes mixed with holy water used to ritually purify those defiled by contact with death or disease.
Some Christian interpretations even describe its ashes as offering a deeper purification than blood sacrifices or death itself.
This symbolic imagery has resurfaced in light of the recent cross-border incident.
According to The Temple Institute, an organization run by Jewish extremists and dedicated to preparing for the construction of the Third Temple in Jerusalem, the cleansing waters created by mixing the ashes of the Red Heifer are essential for the ritual purification of the Temple Mount, the sacred vessels, and the entire Levitical priesthood—all of which are currently being prepared for service.
This has led to speculation among religious and eschatological groups, especially those who believe that the appearance of a perfectly red heifer signals the imminent construction of the Third Temple or the approach of end times.
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