On Thursday, Israel launched a series of strikes against targets in Lebanon in response to a wave of deadly attacks attributed to Hezbollah. The violence began with explosions involving pagers on Tuesday and walkie-talkies on Wednesday, which have resulted in significant casualties. Lebanon’s health ministry has reported that 37 people were killed in these device attacks, though it does not specify whether these were civilians or combatants. Hezbollah, on the other hand, claims that at least 38 of its members have died since the attacks began, but details remain limited.
Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, addressed the situation on Thursday, condemning the attacks as “massacres” and stating that they had “crossed all red lines.” He criticized the attacks for targeting public spaces and causing harm to civilians as well as Hezbollah members. Nasrallah warned that despite the significant blow to his group, Hezbollah would not be deterred and promised continued resistance until there is a resolution in Gaza. He also mentioned that while some of Hezbollah’s leadership was spared from the initial attacks due to their use of older devices, new ones had been deployed elsewhere.
In response, Israel has intensified its military actions. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed that they are striking targets in Lebanon with the goal of degrading Hezbollah’s “terrorist capabilities and infrastructure.” Defense Minister Yoav Gallant declared that these actions signify the start of a “new era” in Israel’s military campaign and confirmed that operations against Hezbollah will continue.
The global response has been varied. A group of United Nations experts condemned the device attacks, labeling them as violations of the human right to life and breaches of international law. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called for restraint, warning that further escalation could hinder ongoing ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas. Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has issued a threat, stating that Israel will soon face a “decisive and crushing response” from the “axis of resistance,” indicating a potential for further regional conflict.
