(Source – theweek)
On Thursday, Israel strikes Hezbollah targets in one of the most intense bombardments of the year, just hours after the militant group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, condemned two deadly attacks he claimed had crossed “all the red lines.” The attacks, which targeted Hezbollah members with explosive devices hidden in everyday items like pagers and walkie-talkies, have escalated tensions in the region, pushing it closer to the brink of a wider conflict.
This dramatic escalation comes almost a year after the October 7 assault by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which has triggered ongoing warfare in Gaza. As Israel strikes Hezbollah, the United Nations Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting to address the rapidly deteriorating situation.
Rising Tensions and Uncertainty
There is growing uncertainty over whether Israel’s latest attacks signal a potential ground invasion across its northern border into Lebanon. Israel strikes Hezbollah targets have heightened fears that the conflict may spread beyond Gaza, with speculation mounting about what moves Hezbollah, backed by Iran and regarded as one of the region’s most powerful paramilitary forces, might take next. Nasrallah, in a speech on Thursday, warned that a “reckoning will come,” although it remains unclear how Hezbollah plans to retaliate, given the scale of the attacks and the impact on its ranks.
In his speech, Nasrallah condemned the twin device explosions, which occurred in public areas and left dozens of casualties. He described the attacks as “massacres” and stated that they had caused considerable harm to civilians. Despite these blows, Nasrallah assured his followers that Hezbollah would not be deterred, emphasizing that fighting would not stop on the Lebanese front as long as hostilities continued in Gaza.
Israel, meanwhile, has signalled its readiness for a potential war with Hezbollah. Earlier in the week, Israel’s defence minister warned that a “new era” of conflict had begun. This warning was followed by confirmation from Israeli military commanders that plans for operations along the northern border with Lebanon had been approved.
The Fallout in Lebanon
The consequences of the recent attacks have been devastating for Lebanon. The bombings, which occurred over the course of Tuesday and Wednesday, have led to widespread panic among residents. Reports indicate that at least 37 people were killed, including children, while nearly 3,000 were injured in explosions that targeted wireless devices in public areas. According to Hezbollah, 38 of its members were also killed in the attacks, although details remain limited.
Israel strikes Hezbollah, on Thursday, As Israel launched additional airstrikes targeting Hezbollah’s infrastructure and rocket launchers, Hezbollah responded with its own barrage of attacks, claiming to have hit military sites in northern Israel. This exchange of fire has led to concerns of a further escalation, particularly in Beirut, where Israeli jets carried out low-flying maneuvers, shaking windows and dropping flares over the Lebanese capital.
Despite Hezbollah’s significant losses, the group is still believed to possess one of the most sophisticated arsenals of any non-state actor in the world. However, signs suggest that the group may have been forced to retreat further underground in response to the latest attacks. Nasrallah’s speech, for instance, was not delivered to a live audience, and the usual public gatherings to watch his address were noticeably absent, fueling speculation about the group’s current state.
As the situation continues to unfold, all eyes are on what comes next, with both Hezbollah and Israel facing significant pressure to navigate this precarious moment without sparking a broader regional war.
