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The cross-border conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has seen a dramatic escalation, with over 9,613 attacks exchanged between October 7, 2023, and September 6, 2024. According to Al Jazeera, this ongoing violence is rooted in a complex history, and recent attacks have been part of Hezbollah’s solidarity with Palestinians trapped in Gaza. Hezbollah’s involvement began on October 8, 2023, after Israel launched military operations in Gaza, sparking retaliatory strikes from the group along the Israel-Lebanon border.
- Over 9,613 cross-border attacks have been exchanged between Israel and Hezbollah from October 2023 to September 2024, according to Al Jazeera.
- Israel has launched more than 7,800 strikes on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, significantly outpacing Hezbollah’s attacks.
- The Times of Israel reported a recent rocket barrage from Lebanon into northern Israel, with no injuries as rockets landed in open areas.
- The Jerusalem Post noted a series of Israeli air and artillery strikes targeting Hezbollah structures in several areas of southern Lebanon, with no injuries reported following drone interceptions.
Since then, Israel has launched over 7,800 strikes on Hezbollah positions, far surpassing the retaliatory attacks by the Lebanese group. Despite the ongoing exchange, Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, has stated that the group does not seek an expanded war but will continue to respond to Israeli aggression. Hezbollah, a powerful force in the region since its formation in 1982, remains battle-hardened from years of conflict, notably during the 34-day war in 2006, which many saw as a strategic failure for Israel.
The Times of Israel reported that attacks on northern Israel continue, such as the recent firing of 10 rockets into the Western Galilee. Fortunately, no injuries were reported as the rockets landed in open areas, highlighting the ongoing tit-for-tat nature of this long-running conflict.
More recently, The Jerusalem Post reported a series of Israeli air and artillery strikes on Hezbollah targets across southern Lebanon, including Majdal Selm and five other locations. Overnight into Wednesday morning, multiple strikes targeted Hezbollah structures, with Israeli drone alerts sounding in northern Israel, including in Tiberias and other localities near Lake Kinneret. Despite the intense military actions, no injuries were reported following interceptions of drone intrusions.
The situation remains highly volatile, with Israel making clear its determination to remove Hezbollah’s presence from southern Lebanon, potentially by force. Meanwhile, Hezbollah insists its actions are in defense of Lebanon and Gaza, suggesting that the violence will continue unless Israel halts its operations in Gaza. The conflict appears to be far from over, with both sides prepared to escalate if necessary.
Explosive Attacks Target Hezbollah’s Hand-held Radios Across Lebanon
In a series of coordinated explosions, hand-held radios used by Hezbollah detonated across Lebanon on Wednesday, killing 14 people and injuring over 450, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. The attacks, which occurred in the southern regions, Beirut suburbs, and the Bekaa Valley, followed a similar incident the day before where pagers exploded, resulting in the deaths of 12 people and injuries to nearly 3,000.
As Reuters reported, these explosions have rattled Hezbollah, leaving the group scrambling to remove batteries from remaining devices to prevent further blasts. The explosions appear to be a sophisticated operation, likely orchestrated by Israel’s Mossad, known for conducting covert attacks on foreign soil. Mossad allegedly planted explosives in the devices months ago, striking a severe blow to Hezbollah’s operational capabilities.
The use of low-tech devices such as pagers and walkie-talkies was part of Hezbollah’s efforts to evade Israeli surveillance of mobile phone communications. However, this strategy was compromised by these attacks, marking what a Hezbollah official called the group’s “biggest security breach” in history.
Israel has not officially commented on the explosions. Still, tensions between the two sides have escalated since the onset of the Gaza conflict in October 2023. Hezbollah retaliated to the attacks by launching rockets at Israeli artillery positions on Wednesday, further stoking fears of a broader Middle East conflict. Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant confirmed that the war’s focus was shifting north, where Lebanon borders Israel, and vowed to open a “new phase” in the conflict.
Lebanon’s Red Cross responded to the multiple blasts with 30 ambulance teams dispatched across affected areas. As the situation worsens, concerns grow over the potential for a full-scale war that could pull in other regional powers, including the United States and Iran.
The United Nations has called for an independent investigation into the blasts, and the UN Security Council is set to meet on Friday to address the situation. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate against Israel, raising concerns about further escalations in a region already grappling with multiple crises, including Lebanon’s ongoing financial collapse and the aftermath of the 2020 Beirut port explosion.