Israel and Hezbollah — a Lebanese Shia Islamist political party and paramilitary group — have threatened to intensify their cross-border attacks in the wake of the recent spate of attacks against each other, despite international calls for restraint.
In retaliation to several Hezbollah attacks on Israeli military positions in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa farms, and northern Israel a day before, Israeli forces on Sep 23 targeted a house in central Deir el-Balah- a Palestinian city in Gaza — killing a woman and her four children, and 10 more Palestinians in two separate attacks on schools-turned-shelters.
Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari in a statement on Sep 23 said the army conducted “extensive strikes” against Hezbollah posts after identifying attempts to fire missiles.
Meanwhile, Israel Defence Minister Yoav Gallant urged the public to remain calm as the military intensified its assault.
“We are deepening our attacks in Lebanon, the actions will continue until we achieve our goal to return the northern residents safely to their homes,” Gallant said in a video published by his office on Sep 23.
“These are days in which the Israeli public will have to show composure,” he added.
Following recent Israeli strikes on northern Lebanon that targeted Hezbollah strongholds causing extensive damage and casualties, Hezbollah's Deputy Chief, Naim Qassem on Sep 22 said that the group has entered "a new phase" in its confrontation with Israel.
Qassem signaled that Hezbollah will not be deterred and the group is prepared to face "all military possibilities."
Last week, a series of devastating explosions in Lebanon targeted communication devices like pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah members like pagers and walkie-talkies. The group blamed Israel for the device explosions which caused nearly 40 casualties and injured thousands of others.
Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sep 22 said that ‘Israel had landed a series of blows on Hezbollah', following a night of intense cross-border fire and back-to-back attacks in Lebanon.
Netanyahu's remarks came in the wake of heightened tensions and clashes between Israel and Hezbollah.
"In recent days, we have landed a series of blows on Hezbollah that it could have never imagined,” said Israel's Prime Minister, adding, “If Hezbollah did not get the message, I assure you it will get the message.”
Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) on Sep 23 reported that Israeli warplanes carried out more than 80 air raids in barely 30 minutes in the southern governorate of Nabatieh.
As both sides hinted at escalating the fight against each other, Army Chief Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi on Sep 22 vowed that Israel would "hit anyone” who threatens its citizens.
Israel’s government recently declared that it was shifting more focus to the fighting with Hezbollah in an attempt to allow at least 60,000 Israelis to evacuate from the border areas to return to safety.
The United States, Israel's biggest ally, has urged restraint. President Joe Biden on Sep 23 emphasized that military escalation is not in Israel's "best interest" and that the US is working tirelessly to prevent a broader conflict.
"We're going to do everything we can to keep a wider war from breaking out," Biden said.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sep 23 also called for restraint warning of the risk of Lebanon becoming "another Gaza" amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.
Pertinently, Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets on Sep 21 and 22 that reached Kiryat Bialik near Haifa, Israel's largest northern city, damaging infrastructure and igniting fears of further escalation.
In retaliation, Israel struck Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, including an airbase and military production facilities. The exchange of fire led Israel's civil defense agency to order schools in the north to shut down.
Gaza’s Health Ministry in a statement on Sep 22 said at least 40 Palestinians were killed and 58 others wounded in the recent spate of Israeli attacks.
The Israeli army on Sep 22 reported that over 150 rockets, missiles, and drones were fired into its territory overnight from Lebanon. Notably, Israel's recent airstrikes, including an attack on the densely populated Dahiyeh neighborhood in Beirut, killed Ibrahim Aqil, head of Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force.
Despite mediation efforts led by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, the conflict shows no sign of abating. Numerous attempts to secure a ceasefire and facilitate hostage release have stalled as Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty recently said that the situation between Israel and Hezbollah is negatively affecting efforts to stabilize Gaza.
