Where Does Hezbollah-Israel Conflict Stands Now
Amidst the anticipation of the promised strong retaliation from Iran, and Iran aligned Hezbollah from Lebanon, Israel launched preemptive attack on positions in Lebanon. The to-and-forth attack between the two has been steadily increasing recently.
Speaking of the situation, Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah said the operation was ordered after Israel crossed all “red lines”, after killing the group’s commander Fuad Shukur in Beirut.
Though the tit-for-tat game has started as early as October 8th last year, – a day after Hamas unleashed attack on Israel, and the latter started to bomb Gaza – the intensity of the attacks gained momentum lately.
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Even though entire Lebanon is not involved in the war, the Southern Lebanon deeply suffered from Israeli attacks. More than 97,000 people were displaced and at least 566 people were killed, of which 133 of them are civilians. Reportedly, over 30 Lebanese towns and villages were hit, in the attack last week, which was largest since October.
Israel said it damaged Hezbollah’s arsenal. Reportedly, Hezbollah is estimated to have 120,000 to 200,000 rockets in its arsenal and has fired about 8,000 at Israeli military positions since October. Israel said its attack destroyed thousands of Hezbollah rockets while Hezbollah said it sent off about 340 Katyusha rockets aimed at 11 military bases, as reported By Al Jazeera.
The group denied the allegations of damages to its arsenal and said Israel is lying, and that shows its “weaknesses”.
Also Read: What Is Hezbollah – How Formidable Is The Lebanese Group?
The attacks during the time of Gaza ceasefire talks played crucial role in boosting the popularity of Hezbollah and its strategic position in the region.
“The timing of these events is crucial as they coincide with negotiations in Cairo aimed at a ceasefire in Gaza as well as significant Shia religious commemorations…Hezbollah’s actions are likely designed to increase pressure on Israel during these talks, leveraging the timing to boost its popularity and strategic position in the region”, Imad Salamey, a professor of political science at the Lebanese American University in Beirut, told Al Jazeera.
According to analysts, operational capacity of both sides has not damaged. “Hezbollah’s ability to carry out a sophisticated attack despite Israel’s preemptive measures demonstrates its resilience and operational capacity. This suggests that Hezbollah is well prepared and can still coordinate significant military actions, maintaining its strategic position in the conflict”, Salamey told Al Jazeera.
