Israel Shells Lebanese South; A Fresh War on a New Front?

Following the concerns about a larger escalation in the area, Israel has increased its operations on southern Lebanon, conducting hundreds of airstrikes. According to Lebanese media, Israeli airplanes bombed the towns of Mahmoudieh, Ksar al-Aroush, and Birket Jabbour in the Jezzine region.

The attacks were among the most intensive bombardment since the beginning of the conflict in Gaza in October, three unidentified Lebanese security officials told Reuters. Following the beginning of the Gaza War, Israel and Hezbollah began exchanging cross-border gunfire. According to the Israeli the armed forces, its air force destroyed additional equipment and about 100 rocket launchers. No report has been published about any potential casualties.

The Israeli secretary of defense stated Hezbollah will pay a growing cost at an announcement on Thursday. Israel wants to create a secure enough environment along its northern border with Lebanon so that those who ran from the cross-border assaults may go back. Yoav Gallant stated that the guidelines of military operations will not change.

The head of Hezbollah had said that last week’s attacks on its fighters in Syria and Lebanon using pagers and walkie-talkies had broken “all red lines.” Hassan Nasrallah warned the organization will fight back. Israeli officials have increased the alert in recent weeks about the possibility of a more extensive military assault against Hezbollah. To enable Israeli residents to return to their houses close to the border, Israel is working hard to put an end to the organization’s firing.

During his first statement following the device strikes on Tuesday and Wednesday, Nasrallah said that the bombings had dealt Hezbollah a “exceptional” damage. Over two days, the explosions left over 3,000 people injured and 37 dead. Hezbollah will carry on its activities against Israeli troops until the onslaught towards Gaza ceased, according to Nasrallah.

Israel’s Strategy

Israel’s “strategies to weaken the backing front of our people and resistance in the Gaza Strip” were thwarted, according to Hamas, which “highly appreciates” Hezbollah’s assistance and Nasrallah’s position. Israel has not responded to the blasts of the devices.

Hamas and Israel’s truce, according to White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre, will “lower the temperature” in the area.  However, she added, the United States was “unwavering” in its opposition to any measures sponsored by Iran.

The Lebanese authorities discovered after a preliminary assessment that the gadgets had explosives embedded. Based on a communication from the Lebanese delegation to the United Nations, the infiltration took place on the devices prior to their arrival in the country. The investigators also discovered that electronic messages were used to explode the devices, involving pagers and portable radios.

Since Israel invaded Gaza on October 7, Hezbollah and Israel have been involved in a largely minor battle. The Gaza war has claimed the lives of almost 41,000 Palestinian people. Israel assassinated Hezbollah chief Fuad Shukr in Beirut towards the end of July. The death of Hamas commander Ismail Haniyeh in Iran the next day raised concerns about a possible escalation.