With the low-level battle between Hezbollah and Israel threatening to escalate into a bigger faceoff, the former is bracing itself for many contingencies. Comments from leaders, such as Israeli Prime Minister, who stated that Tel Aviv has slowed down its assault on Rafah and would divert to Lebanon, have contributed to the notion that Netanyahu is transferring its armed forces priority from Hamas to Hezbollah.
Involvement from local and possibly global entities might come from significant Israeli offensives in Lebanese soils. Almost 100 thousand civilians have been forced out from dwellings in southern Lebanon as a result of Israel’s airstrikes, and a minimum of 435 individuals have died—roughly 349 of whom Hezbollah has identified as supporters.
Hezbollah continues to counter Israeli invective with its own attacks, seemingly unwavering. It is stepping up its cross-border strikes, which have claimed the lives of 10 citizens and fifteen Israeli troops thus far. Since October 7, when Israel began its assault on Gaza, both sides have been exchanging fire across the borderline. Over 1,139 individuals fell victim to an assault in Israel that was spearheaded by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
Since the outbreak of Gaza war, the leader of Hezbollah, has made it clear in lectures that his organization will not continue its border assaults on Israeli targets if that country accepts an end to violence in Gaza. Hezbollah is expected to maintain its stance, according to experts, even if Tel Aviv directs the majority of its armed forces operations at Lebanese front.
Hezbollah Firm approaches
With Benjamin Netanyahu’s extreme coalition allies demanding a “complete defeat of Hamas” prior to a conclusion to the conflict, the concept of a truce appeared to have met an obstacle. Nonetheless, a few Israeli authorities have voiced skepticism over the notion of a total triumph against Hamas, emphasizing that the group philosophy is indestructible and cannot be eliminated. Such misgivings were voiced by military spokesperson Daniel Hagari ealier this month and by Tzachi Hanegbi, director of the National Security Council few days later.
Israel is currently discussing a smooth stage of operation, in which its armed forces would keep on attacking Hamas in Gaza while searching for an administrative replacement to the organization in the territory. This might be due to other factors or to a tacit acceptance of that notion.
Theoretically, a less intense conflict in Gaza would enable Israel to concentrate on Lebanon, but doing so would need the Israeli military executing the difficult task of fighting on both sides. Nasrallah has been demonstrating the strength and resoluteness of his organization. He has stated that more than 100 thousand warriors make up his force, and he turned down requests from other neighboring militias to send additional members to confront Israel since Hezbollah is currently “overwhelmed” with recruits.
Hezbollah threatened to strike the Israeli city of Haifa using video it posted the day before its leader was scheduled to speak. Hezbollah has released another clip purporting to depict a list of objectives in Israeli soil and waters.
Furthermore, Nasrallah warned any third-party state, like Cyprus, about providing any sort of assistance to Israel. Cyprus, by the way, said that it never engages in military cooperation with Israel.
