Hezbollah Faces Heavy Blows as Israel Expands Operations \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Israel conducted limited ground raids targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon and declared a closed military zone in three northern communities, signaling preparations for a broader operation. While Hezbollah has promised to continue its rocket attacks until a cease-fire in Gaza, Israel remains resolute in its strikes. Diplomatic evacuations have begun, highlighting growing fears of a regional escalation.
Israel and Hezbollah Conflict Quick Looks
- Ground Raids Announced: Israel launched limited ground raids against Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon, as confirmed by U.S. officials.
- Northern Areas Restricted: Israel designated three northern towns as “closed military zones,” signaling potential escalation.
- Hezbollah’s Resilience: Despite losing its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah vowed to continue its resistance.
- Civilian Displacements: Ongoing clashes have displaced thousands in both Israel and Lebanon.
- International Reactions: Western countries, including Germany and France, have started evacuating diplomats and citizens from Lebanon.
Deep Look
On Monday, Israel launched limited ground operations targeting Hezbollah positions in Lebanon and declared three northern communities as a “closed military zone,” according to officials. The moves came amid growing signs that more Israeli forces could be deployed to confront Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller confirmed that Israel informed the United States about these operations, characterizing them as “limited actions focused on Hezbollah infrastructure near the border.” So far, there have been no reported direct clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters on Lebanese soil, unlike during the 2006 war, which saw monthlong ground combat between the two foes.
However, an anonymous Western diplomat based in Cairo indicated that an Israeli ground operation in Lebanon was “imminent.” This diplomat, whose country is directly involved in efforts to de-escalate the situation, stated that Israel had shared its plans with the United States and other Western allies, conveying that the operation would be limited in scope.
Since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, Israel and Hezbollah have engaged in near-daily exchanges of fire, which have displaced tens of thousands of civilians on both sides of the border. Israel has maintained that its strikes will continue until it is safe for Israelis displaced from border areas to return to their homes. Hezbollah, for its part, has vowed to continue launching rockets into Israel until a cease-fire is achieved in Gaza.
It remains unclear if Israel has made a final decision on launching a broader ground campaign in Lebanon. Nevertheless, the increasing militarization of the northern border indicates a growing readiness to escalate if necessary.
On Monday, Hezbollah promised to continue its attacks despite significant losses, including the death of its longtime leader, Hassan Nasrallah, and other high-ranking members, who were killed by Israeli airstrikes. The death toll underscores the heavy blows suffered by the militant group.
The Israeli military also restricted access to the northern towns of Metula, Misgav Am, and Kfar Giladi, designating them as closed military zones. Such restrictions do not necessarily mean an immediate invasion is imminent, as these measures are also taken in response to detected threats. However, Israeli troops have significantly reinforced their presence along the Lebanese border in recent days, with military commanders stating they are prepared for an offensive if the government gives the order.
Chris Coyle, a resident of northern Israel, reported that the military had erected gates and checkpoints throughout the region and had deployed numerous tanks along the border. “They’re certainly getting ready to go in,” he observed.
In the Golan Heights, an Associated Press reporter heard artillery fire and explosions originating from southern Lebanon, and Israeli forces also fired flares into Lebanese territory. According to reports, Israeli strikes have killed Nasrallah and six top Hezbollah commanders in the last ten days, and Israel claims to have hit thousands of militant targets across Lebanon. Over 1,000 people have reportedly been killed in Lebanon in the past two weeks, a quarter of them women and children, as stated by Lebanon’s Health Ministry.
Early on Monday, an airstrike hit a residential building in central Beirut, killing three Palestinian militants, a clear indication that Israel is expanding its reach within Lebanon. Despite these losses, Hezbollah’s acting leader, Naim Kassem, affirmed that the group remains ready for further confrontation. In a televised statement, Kassem said that the leaders killed have already been replaced and that Hezbollah’s fighters are prepared for any escalation by Israel.
Kassem will continue in his role until a permanent leader is elected. Hashem Safieddine, a cousin of Nasrallah who oversees Hezbollah’s political activities, is expected to take over as the new leader.
Hezbollah’s Capabilities Uncertain Amid Setbacks
Hezbollah has ramped up its rocket attacks in recent days, firing hundreds of rockets daily, though most have either been intercepted or have landed in uninhabited areas. So far, several Israelis have been injured, but no fatalities have occurred since two soldiers were killed near the border on September 19.
Despite its increased activity, Hezbollah’s overall capabilities remain uncertain. Until recently, an airstrike like the one that targeted central Beirut—an area not typically within Hezbollah’s operational zones—would have been seen as a major escalation, likely prompting a significant long-range response from Hezbollah. However, the conflict’s unspoken “rules” appear to be eroding. The militant group may be conserving its resources for a larger fight, or it could be reeling from internal disruption, given that Israeli intelligence seems to have infiltrated its highest ranks.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, speaking with Israeli troops on Monday, hinted at the possibility of a ground operation, stating that Israel would “use all the capabilities we have.”
Amid these developments, European nations have begun evacuating their citizens from Lebanon. Germany, which had been advising its citizens to leave Lebanon since October 2023, dispatched a military aircraft to evacuate relatives of diplomats and others. Bulgaria also sent a government jet to evacuate its citizens, prioritizing families with children and vulnerable groups.
Israel has frequently targeted Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut’s southern suburbs over the past week, including a major strike on Friday that killed Nasrallah. Monday’s strike, however, took place closer to Beirut’s city center and resulted in the deaths of three members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a small leftist faction that has played no significant role in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Although Israel has not officially claimed the strike, it is widely assumed to be responsible.
Additionally, on Monday, Hamas confirmed that its top commander in Lebanon, Fatah Sharif, was killed along with his family during an airstrike on the Al-Buss refugee camp in Tyre, a southern port city in Lebanon. The Israeli military acknowledged that it had targeted Sharif.
The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said Sharif was one of its employees but had been placed on administrative leave without pay in March following allegations regarding his political activities. Israel has accused UNRWA of being infiltrated by Palestinian militant groups, while the agency maintains that it is committed to neutrality.
Ongoing Fighting Escalates, Diplomatic Calls for Cease-Fire Ignored
Hezbollah began launching rockets, drones, and missiles into northern Israel following Hamas’ surprise attack on October 7, which triggered the ongoing war in Gaza. Both Hezbollah and Hamas are backed by Iran, and Hezbollah has vowed to continue its attacks in solidarity with Palestinians until a cease-fire is achieved in Gaza.
In response to Hezbollah’s fire, Israel has carried out airstrikes in Lebanon, escalating the conflict. According to the Lebanese government, the fighting has displaced up to one million people, though U.N. estimates put the number closer to 200,000. Tens of thousands of Israelis have also been forced to flee their homes. Israel has vowed to maintain its operations until the attacks stop and displaced citizens can return.
The United States and its allies have repeatedly called for a cease-fire, fearing that further escalation could draw in Iran and ignite a wider regional war. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has shown little interest in de-escalation, as Israel continues to gain military leverage over Hezbollah.
France, which has strong ties to Lebanon, has joined the United States in urging a cease-fire. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, visiting Beirut on Monday, implored Israel to refrain from launching a ground offensive. Barrot also called on Hezbollah to cease firing on Israel, stating that the group “bears heavy responsibility in the current situation, given its choice to enter the conflict.”
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed Lebanon’s commitment to an immediate cease-fire and proposed the deployment of Lebanese troops to the south, in line with a U.N. Security Council resolution that ended the 2006 war but was never fully enacted.
Hezbollah, known for its tens of thousands of well-trained fighters and long-range missiles capable of reaching any point in Israel, has long been regarded as the most powerful militant group in the region. However, it has never faced an offensive as sophisticated as the current one, which began in mid-September with an Israeli intelligence operation targeting Hezbollah’s communications systems. The initial attack killed dozens and wounded around 3,000, affecting both fighters and civilians.
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