Israel has announced its readiness to restore calm along the Lebanese front amidst heightened hostilities. On Sunday, Hezbollah launched a cross-border missile attack, resulting in civilian casualties. In response, the Israeli air force targeted sites associated with the Iranian-backed group.
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the chief Israeli military spokesperson, labeled Hezbollah as “the defender of Hamas-ISIS,” linking them to the Palestinian faction that triggered a conflict in Gaza. Hezbollah, traditionally aligned with the Palestinian cause, has seen an expansion in tactics, including the use of larger warheads and kamikaze drones.
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a guided missile attack that wounded electrical company workers near the border. Simultaneously, a mortar attack injured seven Israeli soldiers, and a rocket near Haifa, claimed by a Lebanese Hamas faction, set off alarms but caused no casualties. Israel responded with air force and artillery strikes in Lebanon, holding Hezbollah and the Beirut government accountable for the hostilities.
Rear Admiral Hagari emphasized the IDF’s high state of readiness in the north and warned of consequences for Lebanon’s citizens due to Hezbollah’s actions. Evacuations have been reported on both sides of the border, with southern Lebanese residents moving northward for safety.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appealed to Iran, a supporter of both Hamas and Hezbollah, to intervene and prevent further escalation. In an interview, Guterres expressed concerns about the potential impact of a massive Hezbollah attack on Israel, emphasizing the risks to Lebanon’s survival.
As tensions persist, the international community closely watches the situation, urging diplomatic efforts to quell the growing crisis at the Israeli-Lebanese border.
