Hezbollah Stirs Up Trouble Again: Israel Retaliates with More Airstrikes in Lebanon
Following Rockets: Fresh Israeli Air Assaults on Lebanese Objectives - Intense Air raids resuming over Lebanon following missile attacks by Israel
The tension between Israel and Lebanon is at an all-time high after a fresh wave of rocket attacks from the northern border. On Saturday morning, Israel suffered three rocket strikes originating from Lebanon. In response, Israel's military unleashed a new barrage of airstrikes on Hezbollah targets within the neighboring country.
This recent unrest marks the first rocket attack directed towards the northern regions of Israel since the cessation of hostilities with Hezbollah, which took effect on November 27, 2023. In the aftermath, Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the defense minister, Israel Katz, ordered a consecutive set of airstrikes, striking over 50 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.
The attack reportedly caused casualties, including a child, in the coastal city of Tyre. However, the Iran-backed Lebanese militia, Hezbollah, dismissed any involvement in the attack and accused Israel of concocting the incident as a pretext to escalate its attacks against Lebanon.
The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect following months of conflict between the two factions. Immediately after the outbreak of the conflict, triggered by Hamas' aggression against Israel in October 2023, Hezbollah increased its rocket attacks on Israel. As a result, around 60,000 residents were displaced from the northern parts of Israel, with only a fraction returning following the cessation of hostilities. Meanwhile, around one million Lebanese citizens found themselves displaced from the southern regions of the country as a result of the fighting.
The UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon cautioned that any further deterioration of the volatile situation could pose "grave repercussions for the wider region." The warring parties were urged to refrain from jeopardizing the fragile peace that has been restored.
In the past couple of years, Hezbollah has been behind the majority of rocket attacks on Israel, though Islamic Jihad, the Palestinian organization based in Lebanon, has occasionally claimed responsibility for some attacks.
- Lebanon
- Israel
- Airstrike
- Rocket fire
- Hezbollah
- Coastal city
- Tyre
- Benjamin Netanyahu
- Ceasefire
Insights:
The Past: The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah reached a boiling point in September 2023, resulting in heavy losses for both sides. A ceasefire was brokered by the US and France on November 27, 2023, with guarantees that Israel would not conduct offensive operations against Lebanese targets, while acknowledging Israel's right to retaliate against Hezbollah threats. However, the fragile peace has been tested on numerous occasions due to alleged violations by both parties.
Political Landscape: Lebanon recently established a new government under President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, demanding Israel's complete withdrawal from Lebanese territory. Meanwhile, Israel maintains a presence in some parts of Lebanon due to concerns over Hezbollah's return to the south of the Litani River.
International Response: The UN Security Council welcomed the ceasefire and raised concerns over reported violations, urging full implementation and strict adherence to the cessation of hostilities agreement.
- Despite the ceasefire brokered in November 2023, Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, ordered a new series of airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, following rocket strikes that originated from Lebanon and hit northern regions of Israel on Saturday morning.
- Hezbollah, dismissing any involvement in the attack, accused Israel of fabricating the incident to escalate its attacks against Lebanon, particularly in the coastal city of Tyre where casualties, including a child, were reported.
- The European Union, committed to the implementation of the UN Charter, expressed concerns over this latest escalation of tension between Israel and Lebanon and urged both parties to honor the ceasefire agreement to prevent further violence and avoid triggering unintended consequences that could impact the wider region.
