May 17th 2024.
This week in Beirut, there was a brazen attack carried out by the militant group Hezbollah on a military post in northern Israel. Using a drone, they fired two missiles that wounded three soldiers, with one in serious condition, according to reports from the Israeli military.
This is not the first time that Hezbollah has launched missiles into Israel, but it appears to be the first successful airstrike from within Israeli airspace. In recent weeks, the group has increased its attacks on Israel, especially after the Israeli incursion into the city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip.
According to Lebanese political analyst Faisal Abdul-Sater, this is a way for Hezbollah to send a message to their enemy, showcasing their capabilities and warning of more attacks if necessary. The group has also been using advanced weaponry, including drones with missile-firing capabilities, explosive drones, and guided missiles, in their recent attacks.
Experts say that this escalation in attacks by Hezbollah is in response to the Israeli incursion into Rafah, and that they have been warned by the Iran-led coalition, which includes Hamas, that any further aggression will be met with further escalation. This warning was followed by claims from Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels that they attacked a U.S. destroyer and reports of Iran-backed militants in Iraq firing drones towards Israel.
The Israeli military has expressed concern over Hezbollah's use of more advanced weaponry and their increasing number of attacks. According to military spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, Hezbollah has been firing more and more in recent months. They have also adapted their tactics to reduce the number of fighter casualties, with only 250 fighters lost compared to 15 Israeli troops since the conflict began in October.
Hezbollah has shifted their focus from firing missiles from areas close to the border to using drones and other rockets with heavy warheads from areas several kilometers away. This weekend, they even launched a new rocket with a heavy warhead named after a senior operative who was killed in a 2015 Israeli airstrike in Syria.
Political analysts, like Eva J. Koulouriotis, believe that Hezbollah's recent escalation serves multiple purposes, including raising the stakes in future negotiations with Israel and putting pressure on the Israeli military in light of their preparations for the battle in Rafah.
Despite efforts by foreign dignitaries to end the violence, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah made it clear in a recent speech that they will not stop fighting until Israel ends their military operations in Gaza. This has caused tension among neighboring countries, with Canada's Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly pushing for a ceasefire to allow residents to return to their homes on both sides of the border.
Hezbollah's deputy leader, Naim Kassim, also warned against opening an all-out war, reminding Israel of their defeat in the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war. With tensions escalating and both sides showing no signs of backing down, the situation remains volatile in the region.
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