On Thursday, Israeli warplanes carried out their most intense strikes on southern Lebanon in nearly a year, escalating tensions with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
The strikes followed earlier attacks this week, allegedly by Israel, which targeted Hezbollah’s communications infrastructure, killing 37 people and wounding thousands in Lebanon.
In retaliation, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah condemned the attacks, accusing Israel of crossing “all red lines” and committing potential “war crimes.”
Israel has yet to confirm responsibility for the earlier explosions, but security sources suggest that Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency, likely orchestrated the attacks.
The Lebanese government lodged a complaint with the United Nations, accusing Israel of detonating devices remotely, escalating diplomatic tensions.
Despite international calls for restraint, including from the United States and the United Kingdom, Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant vowed to continue military action against Hezbollah, promising that the group would “pay an increasing price” as operations continue. Two Israeli soldiers were killed in combat on Thursday, further fueling the conflict.
The exchange of fire between Israel and Hezbollah has intensified since the October 7 attack by Hamas, which sparked the ongoing Gaza conflict. While both sides have avoided full-scale war, tens of thousands of people on both sides of the border have been evacuated.
Nasrallah’s televised address on Thursday reiterated Hezbollah’s readiness for further confrontation, viewing Israeli troop movements as a “historic opportunity.”
As tensions rise, U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have urged restraint to prevent further escalation.
