Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have escalated in recent months, with the militant group opening a battlefront with Israel on October 8, one day after a deadly Israeli raid inside Israel triggered the current war in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel is prepared for a “very intense operation” along the border with Lebanon, while the US has cautioned against taking action.
The conflict has its roots in the long-standing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, a US-designated terrorist organization closely aligned with Iran. Hezbollah has been accused of carrying out attacks on Israeli targets in the past, and Israel has responded with military action.
The current escalation began on October 7, when Hezbollah militants attacked an Israeli military patrol near the border with Lebanon, killing two Israeli soldiers. Israel responded with airstrikes on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, and the two sides have been exchanging fire ever since.
The conflict has displaced thousands of people along the border and raised concerns of a wider war. The United Nations has called on all parties to de-escalate, and the US has warned that any further escalation could jeopardize Israeli security.
The Israeli government is under pressure to secure its northern border, and Netanyahu is facing criticism from some quarters for not taking more aggressive action against Hezbollah. However, the US is wary of a wider conflict, and it is unclear how far Israel is prepared to go in its response to Hezbollah’s attacks.
The situation remains fluid, and it is unclear how it will develop. However, it is clear that tensions between Israel and Hezbollah are at their highest in years, and the risk of a full-scale war is real.
