The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has intensified, with both sides exchanging fresh strikes on September 20, 2024. This escalation comes nearly 11 months after the initial outbreak of hostilities following the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas on Israel.
Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based organization founded in 1982, has been engaged in near-daily cross-border fire with Israel since October 2023. The group, which combines Shia Islamism with Lebanese nationalism, has significant political influence in Lebanon and operates a vast social services network.
Lebanon's Foreign Minister, Abdullah Bou Habib, announced that the country's representative to the United Nations Security Council has filed a complaint against Israel, accusing it of committing war crimes. The UN Security Council is scheduled to convene to address the escalating crisis in the region.
According to Lebanon's National News Agency, Israeli warplanes targeted several towns in southern Lebanon, including Mays al-Jabal and Kfarkela. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that over 140 projectiles were fired from Lebanon towards northern Israel on the same day.
The recent violence follows two days of explosions linked to thousands of Hezbollah communication devices across Lebanon. These incidents resulted in at least 37 fatalities and over 3,000 injuries, affecting both Hezbollah operatives and civilians. The attacks on communication devices have been widely attributed to Israel, though Israeli authorities have not officially commented on their involvement.
Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's leader who has been in hiding since the 2006 war with Israel, delivered a speech vowing retaliation for what he described as a "declaration of war." Hezbollah, which receives substantial support from Iran, has developed a significant arsenal of rockets and missiles over the years.
The ongoing conflict has displaced thousands of civilians on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border. In Gaza, the Palestinian Health Ministry reports over 40,000 casualties since the start of Israel's military operation, with the majority being women and children.
"There is technology. Is there strategy?"
The United States, while maintaining leverage through weapons transfers to Israel, appears to be struggling to broker a cease-fire or halt the civilian casualties in Gaza. U.S. officials have cited the prevention of a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah as a key achievement amidst the ongoing crisis.
As the conflict continues to evolve, the international community watches closely, with concerns about the potential for further escalation in an already volatile region.