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What next for Lebanon if Hezbollah-Israel fighting intensifies?
Israel’s politicians and its military officials are increasing their rhetoric of war against Lebanon, as cross-border fighting with Hezbollah intensifies.
There is increasing concern the situation on the Israel-Lebanon border is reaching a critical point.
The shadow of war is also exposing Lebanon’s deep divisions. “Hezbollah has a strong presence and support in southern Lebanon where many back the armed group’s decision to open up a front to help Gaza,” said Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr, reporting from Lebanon’s capital Beirut.
“But the fractured political and sectarian landscape becomes apparent as you travel deeper inside Lebanon. In Beirut, it’s a different reality. Here there are little signs of war and life carries on as normal for many.
“On the surface, there appears to be indifference but there’s concern on what comes next. Israel has threatened to flatten Beirut while Hezbollah has warned it of devastating consequences if it does.”
Israel’s attacks on Lebanon ‘destructive and terrorist aggression’
As cross-border fighting between Hezbollah and Israeli forces continues, Lebanon’s PM Najib Mikati said the “continuation of Israeli attacks and the deliberate killing of people, destruction of towns, and burning of crops, is not only a matter of condemnation and denunciation by us, but it is a destructive and terrorist aggression”.
“It is a terrorist attack that the international community must put an end to.”
Israel confronting Hezbollah ‘a very different calculation’ than taking on Hamas
It’s the third day of rocket barrages from Lebanon into Israel. Israel has characterised this as the most serious attack on its borders since the war started in October.
Since the start of those increased hostilities along the border, some 28 towns and villages on the Israeli side have been evacuated. That’s some 60,000 people who live in them have been living away from there now since October.
Netanyahu is under increasing pressure from far-right cabinet ministers who keep him in power to take a stronger line against Hezbollah to try to push them further away, deep into Lebanon, so they can’t target these northern areas.
But for Israel to take on Hezbollah it’s a very different calculation than taking on Hamas.
Hezbollah has thousands of – a vast array of – rockets that could easily hit many Israeli towns and cities and cause significant damage. In retaliation, Lebanon would also be catastrophically damaged by Israel, so that’s why both sides have managed to avoid all-out confrontation.
Israeli defence minister rejects French plan towards defusing border tensions with Lebanon
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has ruled out joining an initiative promoted by French President Emmanuel Macron in which France, the United States and Israel would form a contact group to work on defusing tensions on Israel’s border with Lebanon.
“As we fight a just war, defending our people, France has adopted hostile policies against Israel,” Gallant said in a statement. “Israel will not be a party to the trilateral framework proposed by France.”
Israeli army proposes re-directing focus to Lebanon
Israel’s Channel 12 is reporting that the army has recommended ending its military offensive in Rafah, southern Gaza, and redirecting its efforts towards a new offensive in southern Lebanon.
