The United States has delivered a strong warning to Hezbollah, demanding the group halt its attacks on Israel if it seeks to ease tensions in the volatile region. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, addressing the media, asserted that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah could effectively quell the violence by ending the attacks on Israel. “If he did that, I guarantee you, we would be impressing upon Israel the need to maintain calm on their end. Bottom line is, he hasn’t stopped those terrorist attacks,” Miller stated.
This stern warning comes in the wake of heightened tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. Nasrallah had announced retaliatory action against Israel for deadly attacks on Hezbollah’s communication infrastructure, following Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s declaration of a “new phase” in the conflict. The escalating situation saw exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and the Israeli military, stoking fears that the 11-month-long intermittent skirmishes could escalate into a full-fledged war.
The tension is palpable, driven by the recent devastating attacks on Hezbollah’s communications infrastructure, blamed on Israel by both Lebanon and Hezbollah. These attacks resulted in a tragic toll, claiming 37 lives and injuring around 3,000 individuals, severely straining Lebanese hospitals and inflicting significant damage on Hezbollah’s militant network.
In immediate response to Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, which triggered the ongoing conflict, Hezbollah commenced attacks on Israeli targets. The situation has teetered on the brink of a full-blown war on multiple occasions.
On Thursday, the Israeli military retaliated with air strikes, targeting approximately 30 Hezbollah rocket launchers and other “infrastructure” in Lebanon. “With the direction of IDF (military) intelligence, the IAF (air force) struck approximately 30 Hezbollah launchers and terrorist infrastructure sites, containing approximately 150 launcher barrels that were ready to fire projectiles toward Israeli territory,” the military stated.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Gallant warned Hezbollah that it would “pay an increasing price” as Israel strives to secure conditions near its border with Lebanon, aiming to facilitate the safe return of residents to their homes. These comments came amidst a flurry of strikes exchanged between Israel and Hezbollah, accompanied by Nasrallah’s vow of retaliation for a mass bombing attack in Lebanon.
In a show of solidarity, Hamas expressed “high appreciation” for Hezbollah’s unwavering support, noting that Nasrallah’s pledge to continue fighting Israel until a ceasefire in Gaza is reached has thwarted attempts to “undermine the support front of our people and resistance in the Gaza Strip.”
Nasrallah, acknowledging the unprecedented impact of the blasts that killed 37 and injured thousands, declared that Hezbollah’s operations against Israel would continue unabated. The militant group has engaged in near-daily exchanges of fire with Israeli troops along the Lebanese border since Hamas’s attacks on Israel in October.
While the focus of Israel’s military operations has been on Gaza for nearly a year, recent statements from senior officials indicate a shift in focus towards Lebanon. The escalating tensions in the region, fueled by the ongoing conflict and the threats of escalation, raise serious concerns about the potential for a wider conflict with far-reaching consequences.
