In the most intense military action in nearly a year, Israeli warplanes launched a series of strikes on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon late Thursday night. The strikes, lasting over two hours, hit hundreds of multiple-rocket-launcher barrels that Israeli military officials claimed were set to be fired toward Israel. The escalation follows earlier blasts in Lebanon, which Lebanese authorities attributed to Israel, killing 37 people and injuring 3,000. Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, condemned the attacks as "crossing all red lines" and potentially amounting to "war crimes."
The strikes come after a period of heightened tensions following an unprecedented attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, which triggered the ongoing Gaza conflict. Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has supported Hamas with cross-border attacks on Israel, leading to consistent exchanges of fire between Hezbollah fighters and Israeli forces. Tens of thousands have been evacuated from both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border since the escalation.
Hezbollah's missile strikes on Israel earlier this week were followed by a wave of explosions, reportedly caused by Israel, targeting Hezbollah's communications devices. According to Lebanese sources, pagers and radios were detonated, leading to widespread fear in Lebanon as civilians abandoned electronic devices. Hezbollah has accused Israel of launching a "technological war" through these attacks.
In response, Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant vowed that Hezbollah would face an "increasing price" as Israel continues its military operations in the north. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his cabinet to discuss the situation, with Israeli officials warning that Hezbollah's actions could lead to greater regional conflict.
The situation has drawn international concern, with the U.S. and U.K. calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking in Paris, urged restraint from all sides to avoid further escalation, while U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy echoed calls for a diplomatic solution.
Despite the escalating violence, Hezbollah maintains that it is not seeking a full-scale war but will continue its attacks as long as the conflict in Gaza persists. Meanwhile, Israeli forces are reportedly preparing for a potential broader conflict, with plans in place for further military action in the northern region.
As the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah intensifies, the U.N. Security Council is set to meet to address the crisis, with Lebanon calling for a firm international response to what it describes as Israeli "aggression." The coming days will likely determine whether the situation escalates further or whether diplomatic efforts can avert a larger regional war.