Israel is tailoring up to launch a significant attack on Lebanon after a lethal rocket strike in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, however it is notlikely to desire to trigger an full-blown war with Hezbollah, experts state.
Israel blames the Lebanese armed group for shooting a projectile on Saturday that hit a football pitch and eliminated 12 kids and young individuals in the Druze town of Majdal Shams.
While Hezbollah has rejected obligation for the attack, Israel has stated the group has crossed a “red line” and will pay a “heavy cost” for the event.
“[The projectile] was plainly a error, and Hezbollah is not interested in targeting Druze, however Hezbollah was striking Israeli positions about 2.5km [1.5 miles] away from Majdal Shams, so it is possible that it made a targeting mistake,” stated Nicholas Blanford, an professional on Hezbollah with the Atlantic Council believe tank.
Israel and Hezbollah haveactually been battling a low-scale dispute because the Hamas-led attacks on neighborhoods and military stations in southern Israel on October 7. Hezbollah has consistently stated it would end attacks on Israel if a ceasefire is reached in Gaza, where Israel’s war hasactually eliminated almost 40,000 Palestinians.
So what does the attack in the Golan Heights mean for a possible escalation inbetween Hezbollah and Israel?
Drumming up assistance
Israel appears to be utilizing the attack to rally domestic and worldwide assistance for a significant strike on Lebanon, according to experts.
On Israel’s authorities X page, an image of the Israeli and Druze flags was published with the caption: “We are all Druze.”
Another post checkout, “They take infants captive. They shoot rockets at homes. Hezbollah, Hamas the Houthis. They are all Iran.”
The 3 groups are amongst those in the area that are linedup with Iran. While they are explained as being part of an Iran-backed “axis of resistance”, each group grew out of disputes particular to its particular context and has its own interests.
After the Majdal Shams attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday delayed the departure of 150 ill and injured kids in Gaza who were expected to get medical treatment in the United Arab Emirates, according to regional Israeli media.
On X, Physicians for Human Rights – Israel called the hold-up “cruel and harmful” and stated the deaths of the 12 young individuals in Majdal Shams “must not be madeuseof for negative political intentions”.
It continued: “This evacuation hold-up when more exposes Israel’s neglect for the lives of kids and innocent civilians in Gaza. Vengeance is not a genuine policy.”
But even as Israel continues to ravage Gaza, experts think it will attempt to reduce civilian casualties with its strike on Lebanon out of worry of triggering a wider dispute that it can’t include.
“The reality that the victims [in Majdal Shams] were all kids and teens provides them an psychological [weight], however I puton’t believe the Israelis desire to intensify,” Blanford informed Al Jazeera.
