Israeli Strikes in Southern Lebanon Escalate Tensions

Explosions have been heard in the border villages following surge of Israeli airstrikes at Southern Lebanon. From the small southern city of Tyre, we could see it all unfolding; sunbathers lay apparently oblivious on a nearby beach.

The uptick in hostilities came after Israel assassinated Hezbollah’s senior commander, Fuad Shukr, last month. Hezbollah quickly signaled its response, which it called the “first” phase. The group derided Israel’s preemptive action as ineffective, calling it a “lie and misleading.”

According to the report, 11 military bases and barracks were targeted in Hezbollah’s strikes. Significantly, however, the attacks all steered clear of important infrastructure or major cities and continue to honor rules of engagement in this very long-running conflict—target military rather than civilian targets.

There have been no confirmed civilian casualties on the Israeli side so far. Still, those deaths could trigger more violent focus on the Gaza border and in Jerusalem—but deaths by such a lethal means might cause wider tensions to spiral further out of control.

Three have died in Lebanon during Israeli strikes this morning, including an entire family. They were believed to be militants but are yet to be identified.

Now the situation is still in a dangerous place. The preemptive strike by Israel has absolved Hezbollah of its booby trap blame, leaving the question: Will this push it to escalate against him on an even larger scale? While there are pressures on the Israeli right to sound tough, they might instead settle for less ambitious tit-for-tat attacks—a dangerous balancing act that neither side wants to push too far and risk an all-out war. In southern Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes have grown more intense in the past few hours, and explosions can be heard from the hills near their border. From the southern city of Tyre, we saw this happening, while dozens enjoyed a day on the beach with no sign whatsoever that these events were taking place in our country.

The recent flare-up comes after Israel has been incriminated in the assassination last month of a senior Hezbollah functionary, Fuah Shakr. Hezbollah, on the other hand, quickly communicated it would retaliate but hinted that this was only phase one. They rejected Israel’s preemptive measures, describing them as “empty claims.

According to the Israelis, Hezbollah hit 11 military bases and barracks. Developing over the ensuing 37 years, these attacks were all significant at night, yet there was a deliberate strategy employed that kept them away from critical infrastructure or major cities—in other words, playing by the rules of engagement in this ongoing combat—military targets rather than civilians.

There have been no confirmed civilian victims on the Israeli side as of now. Still, deaths could lift tensions even higher and lead Israel to respond more aggressively.

Israeli morning strikes killed 3 in Lebanon. Their identities could not immediately be confirmed but were thought to belong to fighters.

It’s still a very volatile situation. Israel sparking this preventable war Israel has initiated is not limited to the US, however, as now we must concern ourselves with whether or not escalation on a wider scale of wars by Israeli hands. Israel will likely respond forcefully to the tunnel attack. While many on the right are demanding… further escalation, a quick return to smaller tit-for-tat attacks is more probable – and both sides tread carefully along that line for fear of sparking an all-out war.