Yesterday, Israel and Hezbollah—based in Lebanon—launched their heaviest exchange of cross-border fire since the war in Gaza began nearly 11 months ago, although by mid-morning, the exchange appeared to have ended. Israel said it used around 100 warplanes to pre-emptively strike sites that Hezbollah planned to use in a broader attack, while Hezbollah said it launched hundreds of rockets and drones at military sites in Israel. (AP)
Our Take
Israel and Hezbollah have been engaged in a cross-border conflict since the war in Gaza began, but it has stayed relatively low-level for nearly that entire time. After an Israeli airstrike in a suburb of Beirut killed a senior Hezbollah leader last month, though, there were concerns that Hezbollah’s inevitable retaliatory attack could turn the conflict into an all-out war.
Those concerns have loomed over the conflict for weeks, especially as Iran has yet to launch its own retaliatory attack for the strike that killed a senior Hamas leader in Tehran the same day. As a result, the intensity of yesterday’s exchanges of fire is undoubtedly worrying, as is the fact that Hezbollah’s leader indicated that the group may engage in a further response if they feel it is necessary.