This morning, heavy smoke rose from Lebanese villages after Israeli airstrikes, signaling a sharp rise in tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.
According to the Israeli military, around 100 fighter jets launched pre-emptive strikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon.
Later, Hezbollah responded by firing over 300 rockets and missiles into northern Israel, marking the most intense exchange since the 2006 war between the two sides.
Israel’s strikes were carried out at around 04:30 local time, with the military claiming they had disrupted Hezbollah’s plan for a large-scale attack, which was expected to happen half an hour later.
BBC reported that Hezbollah’s retaliation is believed to be connected to Israel’s recent assassination of Fouad Shukr, a senior Hezbollah commander, in Beirut on 30 July.
Additionally, Israel is suspected to have assassinated Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran the next day, though Iran has not yet responded.
Diplomats have been working hard to prevent the Gaza crisis from escalating into a broader regional conflict. However, as BBC mentioned, the failure to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas increases the risk of this conflict spreading.
While Israel is prepared for a two-front war, dealing with both Gaza and Hezbollah on the northern border, Hezbollah is considered a stronger and better-equipped force than Hamas, according to BBC.
The situation remains uncertain as both sides say they don’t want a full-scale war but are ready for one if it comes.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjw398njqj4o