Lebanon remains on edge after days of heightened tension as residents anticipate a response from Hezbollah against Israeli actions. The conflict is raising concerns about potential wider regional implications.
The Iranian-backed Hezbollah group prepared for retaliation after Israel’s high-profile assassination of military commander Fuad Shukr on July 30. This incident has been deemed both a significant strategic loss and a public humiliation for Hezbollah.
In a striking move, hours later, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was reportedly killed in Tehran, possibly marking another Israeli operation, while Iran hinted at a prolonged strategy of retaliation.
At 5:15 AM on Sunday, Hezbollah fired over 300 Katyusha rockets along with numerous drones into Israeli territory, a calculated act of vengeance that was more measured than expected.
Hezbollah claimed it successfully targeted 11 military bases and barracks. In contrast, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported that most rockets failed to hit their intended targets.
Despite the scale of the attack, Hezbollah refrained from targeting major Israeli cities or critical infrastructure and chose not to deploy its most advanced weapons. Analysts note that Hezbollah possesses a vast arsenal, potentially exceeding many national armies.
Prior to Hezbollah’s strike, Israel launched a preemptive air campaign, reportedly destroying thousands of rocket launchers in the border region.
This escalation marks the most significant conflict since hostilities in Gaza surged last October, following a deadly attack which claimed 1,200 Israeli lives in just one day.
Since then, Hezbollah has continued to engage in cross-border exchanges, openly supporting Hamas while expressing solidarity with the people of Gaza.
One day after the flare-up, the situation may appear somewhat stabilizing. Both parties have communicated their intention to avoid full-scale war, suggesting a brief reprieve from escalating tensions.
Hezbollah’s leadership indicated they may reserve their right for further retaliation but suggested that civilians could return to their normal lives for the time being.
In a televised address from an undisclosed location, Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah reassured supporters amidst concerns of renewed violence.
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu remarked that the recent strikes against Hezbollah mark a continuation of ongoing conflict, rather than its conclusion.
Diplomatic sources indicate both Israel and Hezbollah have conveyed messages reflecting a mutual desire to de-escalate tensions.
In southern Lebanon, the atmosphere has returned to a familiar pattern of intermittent conflict. Israeli forces attempted another targeted assassination in Sidon, where local reports indicate that the Hamas leader narrowly escaped unharmed.
Meanwhile, in Tyre, the Israeli air force continues low-level operations while local beaches grow busier, indicating a return to daily life.
“Today feels calm,” remarked a local resident in his 20s, expressing a sense of normalcy returning to the area.
Hezbollah reportedly postponed its retaliation to allow for ceasefire negotiations regarding Gaza, though recent talks in Egypt yielded little progress.
As the devastating conflict in Gaza continues, it perpetuates regional instability and uncertainty across the Middle East.
