Israeli warplanes launched a significant offensive on Thursday, hitting over 100 Hezbollah rocket launchers and other “terrorist sites” in southern Lebanon. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the targeted launchers were primed for imminent attacks against Israeli territory, a statement that underscores the growing instability along the Israel-Lebanon border.
The IDF emphasized that the operation aimed to degrade Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, including a weapons storage facility. The full extent of the damage remains unclear, as no immediate information on casualties has been reported. In Lebanon, the state-run National News Agency confirmed at least 52 Israeli airstrikes in the south on Thursday evening, heightening fears of a broader confrontation in the region. Lebanon also reportedly retaliated with strikes on Israeli military positions in the north.
The latest escalation follows a week of violence marked by mutual attacks and incendiary rhetoric. The head of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, labeled a series of deadly explosions earlier this week as crossing “all red lines,” accusing Israel of perpetrating what he described as a “declaration of war.”
Explosions Rock Lebanon, Nasrallah Blames Israel
The heightened tensions stem from a series of explosions across Lebanon on Tuesday and Wednesday that left 37 people dead and 3,000 others wounded. The explosions, which caused pagers and walkie-talkies to detonate simultaneously across the country, raised alarms about Israel’s potential involvement, though Israeli officials have not claimed responsibility.
Nasrallah’s televised address on Thursday was a fiery condemnation of Israel, accusing it of war crimes and stating that the attacks had shattered all moral and legal boundaries. He described the explosions as an unprecedented assault on Lebanese sovereignty and resistance.
“The enemy crossed all rules, laws, and red lines,” said Nasrallah. “It didn’t care about anything at all, not morally, not humanely, not legally.”
Hezbollah, a militant group supported by Iran, has long been involved in armed confrontations with Israel. The group’s stronghold in southern Lebanon has been a flashpoint for conflict, particularly since the beginning of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Although Nasrallah’s speech was defiant, he suggested that Hezbollah does not seek a full-scale escalation with Israel. However, he vowed to continue cross-border attacks unless a ceasefire is declared in Gaza. Hezbollah’s actions, he insisted, are directly tied to its solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza and their armed struggle against Israeli occupation.
Fighting Escalates Following Hamas’ Attack on Israel
The violence between Hezbollah and Israel escalated sharply on October 8, 2023, the day after Hamas militants launched an unprecedented attack on Israel from Gaza. In a show of solidarity with the Palestinian group, Hezbollah began firing at Israeli military positions in northern Israel. Since then, hundreds have died in cross-border fighting, most of them Hezbollah fighters, while tens of thousands of civilians have been displaced on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border.
Hezbollah’s involvement has introduced a second front in Israel’s war, which initially focused on Hamas in Gaza. The conflict has drawn attention to the interconnectedness of the various groups in the region, many of which are backed by Iran and regarded as terrorist organizations by Israel, the United States, the United Kingdom, and other Western nations.
In response to Hezbollah’s rocket fire and drone strikes from southern Lebanon, the IDF carried out numerous air raids targeting the group’s military infrastructure. The IDF claims that Thursday’s strikes targeted around 1,000 barrels of munitions that were ready to be used in the immediate future. “The IDF will continue to operate to degrade the Hezbollah terrorist organization’s infrastructure and capabilities in order to defend the state of Israel,” the Israeli military said in a statement.
Lebanon and Israel Trade Blows as Casualties Mount
The IDF reported on Thursday that two Israeli soldiers were killed and one seriously wounded after Hezbollah fighters launched anti-tank missiles across the border. The attack was followed by a Hezbollah drone strike on Israeli positions.
In response, Israel intensified its air campaign in southern Lebanon, where the IDF has focused on destroying Hezbollah’s rocket launch sites and preventing further missile attacks on northern Israel. Lebanese security sources cited by Reuters and the New York Times reported that Thursday’s Israeli strikes were some of the most intense since the conflict began in October 2023.
Lebanese authorities have warned that Israel’s strikes are pushing the region toward a broader war. On Thursday evening, Israeli warplanes buzzed Beirut, causing sonic booms that rattled the city’s already exhausted population. Further strikes were reported in Hezbollah-controlled regions of southern Lebanon.
Israel Prepares for a “New Phase of the War”
Israel’s defense officials have signaled that the country is shifting into a “new phase” of the conflict, focusing more of its military resources on the northern front with Hezbollah. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant emphasized the strategic importance of degrading Hezbollah’s capabilities while minimizing risks to Israel’s civilian population in the north.
“In the new phase of the war, there are significant opportunities but also significant risks,” Gallant said. “Hezbollah feels that it is being persecuted, and the sequence of military actions will continue.”
Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, the IDF’s chief of staff, has reportedly approved a series of plans for dealing with the northern arena, though the specifics remain undisclosed. Some reports suggest that Israel may be considering the establishment of a buffer zone inside southern Lebanon, a strategy reminiscent of Israel’s previous occupation of the area that lasted until 2000.
“We are determined to ensure the safe return of Israel’s northern communities to their homes,” Gallant added, warning that Hezbollah would continue to “pay an increasing price” as the conflict drags on.
Amid the escalating violence, international leaders have called for restraint on both sides. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking during a diplomatic meeting in Paris, emphasized the importance of avoiding actions that could further escalate the conflict. He urged all parties to focus on achieving a ceasefire in Gaza, where the humanitarian situation has reached critical levels.
“We don’t want to see any escalatory actions by any party,” Blinken said, noting that further provocations could complicate efforts to achieve a ceasefire and peace in Gaza.
The United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy echoed these sentiments, urging both Israel and Hezbollah to seek a negotiated political settlement. “We are all very, very clear that we want to see a ceasefire and a return to diplomacy,” Lammy stated.
Despite these calls, there appears to be little immediate prospect for a ceasefire, with both Israel and Hezbollah vowing to continue their military operations. Analysts fear that the situation could spiral into a full-blown war between the two sides, adding a dangerous new dimension to an already volatile Middle East.
Hezbollah’s Role in the Wider Conflict
Hezbollah’s involvement in the conflict is seen as part of a broader regional alignment, with the group acting as a proxy for Iran’s interests in Lebanon and beyond. Both Hezbollah and Hamas are backed by Iran, which uses these groups to challenge Israel and U.S. influence in the Middle East. For Iran, the conflict serves to divert attention from its domestic challenges and sanctions while further entrenching its influence over regional politics.
Hezbollah’s backing of Hamas and its willingness to engage in cross-border violence has raised concerns about the broader implications of the current conflict. With Iran’s support, Hezbollah has amassed a significant stockpile of weapons and boasts tens of thousands of fighters, making it a formidable opponent for Israel. The group has previously fought Israel to a standstill in the 2006 Lebanon War, and a repeat of that conflict could prove devastating for both sides.
The intensifying cross-border conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has raised fears of a new war on Israel’s northern front, just as the country grapples with its ongoing conflict in Gaza. Thursday’s airstrikes marked a significant escalation, with both sides trading blows and casualties mounting. While international leaders have urged restraint and diplomacy, there appears to be no clear path toward de-escalation in sight.
For now, both Israel and Hezbollah seem determined to continue their military campaigns, with Lebanon once again caught in the crosshairs of a broader regional conflict. As the situation deteriorates, the toll on civilians on both sides is expected to rise, adding further urgency to calls for a ceasefire.
