After a week of Israeli attacks, Hezbollah is on the defensive and the region stands on the brink of all-out war
Israel’s string of tactical successes against Hezbollah over the past week has brought the two sides to a crossroads. The escalation of attacks, from the pager explosions to Friday’s airstrike on top commanders of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force, are meant to send an unmistakable message: “Back off, or expect all-out war.” Given the terrorist group’s modus operandi until now, however, the latter scenario is looking more likely.
The realization that Israel’s hand is being forced has sunk in among its political and military echelons. The challenge is choosing the right moment and manner of the operation to minimize risks and maximize results.
The past few days have proven that the IDF is headed for escalation, whether Hezbollah is interested or not. “We can’t let Nasrallah continue to set the pace,” an IDF official told Mishpacha regarding last weekend’s attacks in Lebanon. “We’ve been locked in a painful attritionary conflict for almost a year. It’s time we take the reins into our own hands and rewrite the rules of the game.”
The almost simultaneous explosion of thousands of pager devices in Lebanon and neighboring countries last week caught even some senior Israeli defense officials off guard. That’s how secretive the operation was. According to foreign media reports, Israel felt it had no choice but to act, despite knowing it would trigger a significant escalation in the northern sector.
Create a free account to keep reading.
