In the Middle East, Israel launched airstrikes on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon on Tuesday. In retaliation, the Iran-backed Hezbollah group targeted several military installations in northern Israel, raising the spectre of a wider conflict across the region. The violence follows Lebanon’s deadliest day in decades, intensifying concerns of a full-blown war.
Israel Hits Dozens of Hezbollah Targets
Israel’s military confirmed that it had struck dozens of Hezbollah targets overnight, as part of an ongoing military campaign aimed at neutralizing the group. Monday’s airstrikes, which Lebanese officials claim resulted in nearly 500 deaths, triggered a mass exodus of civilians from southern Lebanon. Tens of thousands fled the volatile border region, seeking refuge from the escalating conflict.
A senior Israeli military official commented, “Our objective is to weaken Hezbollah’s capabilities and ensure the security of Israel’s northern border.” According to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), the airstrikes targeted rocket launchers, command posts, and other critical Hezbollah infrastructure. Israel’s military asserted that these measures are necessary to prevent Hezbollah’s continued attacks and ensure the safety of its citizens.
Hezbollah Strikes Back
Hezbollah responded in kind, launching a series of rocket attacks deep into Israeli territory. The group’s military arm claimed responsibility for hitting several Israeli military targets, including an explosives factory located 60 km (37 miles) into Israel’s territory. The strikes were reportedly carried out using Fadi rockets at approximately 4 a.m. local time.
The militant group also claimed to have targeted the Megiddo airfield, near the northern Israeli town of Afula, on three separate occasions throughout the night. While the damage from these strikes remains unclear, Hezbollah has continued to ramp up its operations in recent weeks, aligning itself with Hamas in Gaza.
Hezbollah has made it clear that its attacks are in direct response to Israel’s operations against Hamas in Gaza. The group’s Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah, has pledged to support Hamas, which is also backed by Iran. This alliance between Hezbollah and Hamas threatens to draw Israel into a multi-front war, compounding the challenges it faces.
Lebanon’s Deadliest Day in Decades
The recent flare-up in violence marks Lebanon’s deadliest day since the country’s brutal civil war, which raged from 1975 to 1990. Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, announced that he would fly to New York to address the United Nations General Assembly in an effort to quell the rising tensions.
Mikati’s office issued a statement, saying, “The prime minister will seek urgent international intervention to prevent further destruction in Lebanon and protect its citizens from the escalated wave of Israeli airstrikes.” The Lebanese government has called on the international community to step in and mediate the conflict, fearing that Lebanon could once again descend into prolonged instability.
For Lebanon, this surge in violence comes at a time when the country is already grappling with a catastrophic economic collapse. Since 2019, Lebanon has been in the throes of a financial crisis that has devastated its currency and plunged much of its population into poverty. Another major conflict with Israel would only exacerbate the country’s economic woes and leave lasting scars on its already fragile infrastructure.
Regional Fears of a Broader Conflict
The fighting between Israel and Hezbollah is not an isolated event. It has sparked growing concerns that the broader Middle East could become embroiled in an escalating conflict. With Iran’s deep ties to both Hezbollah and Hamas, there are fears that a full-scale regional war could erupt, involving not only Israel and Lebanon but also Iran and other Iranian-backed proxies, including Yemen’s Houthis and various militant groups in Iraq.
The involvement of Iran in the conflict is a major concern for Western powers. The United States, a close ally of Israel, has warned against any expansion of hostilities in the region. Following meetings at the United Nations, the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) major democracies issued a statement, warning that the Middle East could be dragged into a broader war, a scenario from which no country would benefit.
A senior Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, commented, “Iran’s influence across the region cannot be ignored. We are seeing coordinated attacks from groups that are all linked to Tehran. Israel’s top priority is to defend its people and prevent a wider war, but we must also acknowledge the real possibility of further regional escalation.”
Israel’s Options: Invasion or Broader Strikes?
As the situation along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon deteriorates, Israeli military officials are weighing their options. One possibility is a ground invasion of southern Lebanon, a move that could involve extensive military operations similar to the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war. Such a decision would carry significant risks, as Hezbollah is widely regarded as a more formidable adversary than Hamas.
Hezbollah, which was created by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in 1982 in response to Israel’s invasion of Lebanon, is highly disciplined and experienced in guerrilla warfare. The group possesses an arsenal of advanced weaponry, making it a far more dangerous opponent for Israel than Hamas. If Israel were to launch a ground invasion, it would likely face stiff resistance from Hezbollah fighters entrenched in the rugged terrain of southern Lebanon.
Another option for Israel would be to expand its air campaign, striking Hezbollah-controlled areas in Beirut and other critical infrastructure in Lebanon. Bridges, highways, and military installations could all be targeted in an effort to cripple Hezbollah’s supply lines and military capabilities. However, such actions could have severe consequences for Lebanon’s already weakened infrastructure, leaving the country in even greater disarray.
Lebanon’s Economic Woes Compound the Crisis
Lebanon is ill-prepared to handle the fallout from a large-scale conflict. The country’s financial crisis, which has been festering for nearly five years, has left the government largely incapable of responding to major disasters. Banks have frozen accounts, and inflation has spiraled out of control, making everyday necessities unaffordable for many.
Should Hezbollah and Israel’s conflict escalate into a full-blown war, Lebanon’s already struggling economy could be pushed to the brink of collapse. The country is still reeling from the 2020 Beirut port explosion, which killed hundreds, injured thousands, and caused billions of dollars in damage. The prospect of further destruction from an Israeli military campaign would be a devastating blow for Lebanon, both financially and socially.
Nasser Yassin, Lebanon’s minister coordinating the crisis response, told Reuters that 89 temporary shelters had been set up in schools and other facilities to accommodate civilians fleeing the violence. He expressed deep concern over the “Israeli atrocities” and called on the international community to intervene before the situation spirals out of control.
A Broader Conflict on the Horizon?
Despite Hezbollah’s attempts to downplay the possibility of a wider war, there are growing fears that the group may be dragged further into the conflict. A senior source familiar with Hezbollah’s thinking said that the group was now in an “unprecedented phase of confrontation” with Israel. While Hezbollah insists it does not seek a broader conflict, Israel’s increasing airstrikes suggest it is determined to push the group into a corner.
In recent days, Israel has ramped up its warnings, urging residents in southern Lebanon to evacuate areas where Hezbollah is believed to be storing weapons. This has resulted in highways clogged with cars, vans, and trucks as families attempt to flee the region. As the violence intensifies, the risk of miscalculation on either side grows, potentially triggering a wider conflict that could engulf the entire region.
While Israel has demonstrated its military superiority in both Gaza and Lebanon, the prospect of fighting a multi-front war remains a daunting challenge. Hezbollah is a more sophisticated and well-armed adversary than Hamas, with years of experience in guerrilla warfare. Despite this, Israel’s military remains determined to secure its northern border and protect its citizens from further attacks.
As violence continues to escalate between Israel and Hezbollah, fears of a broader regional war loom large. With both sides engaged in fierce retaliation, the conflict threatens to spiral out of control, drawing in neighboring countries and potentially leading to a full-scale war. The international community, particularly the United States and the United Nations, is closely monitoring the situation, hoping to mediate and prevent a further escalation.
For now, the people of Lebanon and northern Israel remain caught in the crossfire, facing an uncertain future as the conflict shows no signs of abating. The stakes are high, and the decisions made in the coming days could have far-reaching consequences for the entire Middle East.
