For nearly a month, Lebanon, Israel, and the wider region have been on edge, waiting for Hezbollah’s response to the Israeli assassination of senior commander Fuad Shukr. Shukr, a high-ranking leader within Hezbollah, was killed in Dahiya, a Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut’s southern suburbs. The group's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, had vowed retaliation, creating expectations that the response would be significant given the ongoing hostilities.
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| Image source: Media. |
In a pre-emptive pre-dawn strike, Israel claims to have foiled Hezbollah's planned retaliation. According to an Israeli military spokesperson, some of the targets were in central Israel, areas previously untouched by Hezbollah's attacks. Following this, Hezbollah announced it had launched a barrage of rockets and drones as the first phase of its response, declaring the operation a success.
The tension escalated further as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated Israel's resolve to protect its citizens and return the tens of thousands displaced in the north. Netanyahu emphasized, “Whoever harms us - we will harm them,” underlining Israel’s stance amidst the ongoing cross-border violence.
This spike in hostilities occurs as efforts continue to negotiate a ceasefire and a hostage release deal in Gaza. Despite the increasing violence between Israel and Hezbollah, these negotiations are expected to proceed, with the hope that they might de-escalate tensions across the region.
Both Israel and Hezbollah claim success in their respective operations. Israel reported that around 100 aircraft were deployed to strike 40 launch sites in southern Lebanon, destroying thousands of Hezbollah rocket launcher barrels aimed at Israel. Meanwhile, Hezbollah confirmed it had completed the first phase of its retaliation, targeting 11 Israeli bases with Katyusha rockets.
The possibility of a full-scale war remains, with concerns that it could draw in Iran and the US. Both Israel and Hezbollah have suffered significant losses and displacement, with more than 60,000 Israelis and an even greater number of Lebanese civilians displaced. The conflict in Gaza, where over 40,000 Palestinians have been killed, continues to fuel Hezbollah’s attacks, making the situation increasingly volatile.
