Israel Shifts Focus to Northern Front as Walkie-Talkie Bombs Signal New War Phase

[Social Media]

 

Israel's ongoing conflict saw a significant development when walkie-talkie bomb attacks in Lebanon prompted Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to announce a strategic shift towards the northern front, emphasizing Hezbollah as the new focus of military operations. This shift marks a new phase in the 11-month war that followed the Hamas attacks on October 7, last year. As Gallant explained, Israel is diverting military resources towards the Lebanese border. "The center of gravity is shifting to the north, by diverting resources and forces [there]," he stated, underscoring the new stage of the war and the challenges ahead. "It requires courage, determination, and perseverance from us," he added, signaling that Israel's attention is now firmly fixed on Hezbollah, a formidable adversary.

 

While Gallant's remarks suggest a potential escalation, experts warn of the risks associated with a full-scale Israeli assault on Hezbollah. Such an operation could come with significant political ramifications, and many believe the United States may discourage Israel from launching an invasion. Despite this, Israel has reiterated its goal of returning approximately 60,000 evacuees to their homes in the north as part of its military objectives.

 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in televised remarks, did not directly address the bombings or the possibility of war but reassured residents about their safety. "I already said that we would return the residents of the north securely to their homes and that is exactly what we will do," he asserted. The leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, is expected to respond to these developments in a televised speech, signaling that tensions between the two sides could escalate further.

 

Hezbollah has also made its stance clear, with Seyed Hashem Safiuddin, head of Hezbollah's executive council, affirming that injured fighters would soon return to the frontlines. "These attacks will certainly be uniquely punished," Safiuddin warned, adding, "Revenge is inevitable." The exchange of rocket fire between Hezbollah and Israel has persisted since Israel retaliated against Gaza following the Hamas-led massacre, though the conflict has not yet escalated into a full-scale war.

 

The recent wave of explosions in Lebanon involved remote-controlled devices, including radios, security doors, and solar power systems, detonated simultaneously across the country. This marked the second such attack in just two days.

 

According to reports, Hezbollah operatives had become suspicious of the devices shortly before the blasts, which may have led the Israelis to act earlier than planned. "It was a use-it-or-lose-it moment," said one U.S. official to Axios. Some reports suggest that these explosives were intended for use only in the event of all-out war, raising concerns that Israel may now consider a ground invasion to prevent Hezbollah from regrouping after the shock of the attack.

 

Israel's military actions in the north have already begun to intensify. The Israel Defense Forces redeployed its elite 98th division from Gaza to the Lebanese border and conducted several drills aimed at preparing for operations on northern terrain, including simulations of enemy incursions and battlefield evacuations. Major General Ori Gordin, commander of Israel's northern forces, expressed confidence in the readiness of his troops, stating they were at "peak readiness" and determined to "change the security reality as soon as possible."

 

With Hezbollah's reputation as a more capable adversary than Hamas, this shift in focus has raised concerns. The Iranian-backed Shia group reportedly possesses between 100,000 and 150,000 rockets, which could be unleashed in the event of a full-scale conflict with Israel. As tensions rise, the prospect of a broader, more destructive confrontation looms over the region.

 

Credit: Daily Telegraph 2024-09-20

 

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

Another war in the M E- just what we didn't need.

 

It'll keep the bomb makers in the US happy though- the profits just keep rolling in. They need another war if Ukraine ends.

 

IMO the world is watching as the M E slowly catches fire, and after it's all over, the usual suspects ( that could have stopped it ) will be busily diverting attention elsewhere.

 

IMO, the only question is if the US will send the army/ marines/ A F to join in the fun, or will they left the israelis go it alone.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 9/20/2024 at 8:37 AM, Social Media said:

"The center of gravity is shifting to the north, by diverting resources and forces [there]," he stated, underscoring the new stage of the war and the challenges ahead. "It requires courage, determination, and perseverance from us," he added, signaling that Israel's attention is now firmly fixed on Hezbollah, a formidable adversary.

 

Sooooo, let's forget about the hostages that they have not been able to liberate and let's forget about eliminating Hamas in Gaza, which they have been unable to do.

 

Perhaps netanyahu was running out of excuses for prolonging the Gaza conflict and wanting to put off his day in court a while longer.

[Bkk Brian]

39 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Sooooo, let's forget about the hostages that they have not been able to liberate and let's forget about eliminating Hamas in Gaza, which they have been unable to do.

 

Perhaps netanyahu was running out of excuses for prolonging the Gaza conflict and wanting to put off his day in court a while longer.

What a sick comment, nobodies forgetting the innocent hostages still being held and abused in Gaza by the Hamas terrorists, the ones they've not murdered are still going through hell each day. Al Jazeera would not share this I'm sure..........and I know you prefer to constantly blame Netanyahu.

 

Israel offers to end war, let Sinwar leave if all hostages freed at once, Gaza disarmed

Israel has put a proposal on the table that would end fighting in the Gaza Strip and give the head of Hamas safe passage out of the enclave in exchange for the immediate release of all hostages held in Gaza, the demilitarization of the Strip and the establishment of an alternative governing power there, Kan news reported Thursday.

An Israeli official confirmed the outlines of the report to The Times of Israel and said Gal Hirsch, the government point man on the hostages, had presented the plan to American officials, who were expected to pass it on to unspecified Arab officials.

Hirsch told families of hostages that the proposal had been presented last week in a meeting with US officials from the White House and State Department, Kan said.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-offers-to-end-war-let-sinwar-go-if-all-hostages-freed-at-once-gaza-disarmed/

 

Kirby: Sinwar continues to be main obstacle to reaching a hostage release-ceasefire deal

Responding to a Wall Street Journal report which alleged that a hostage-ceasefire deal was unlikely before the end of US President Joe Biden’s term in January, Kirby acknowledges that mediators are “no closer to achieving that than we were even a week or so ago” but vows that “ain’t nobody giving up.”

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/kirby-sinwar-continues-to-be-main-obstacle-to-reaching-a-hostage-release-ceasefire-deal/

 

 

"Today I met once again with families of hostages kidnapped and held by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups in Gaza. One was the brother of a hostage Hamas recently killed.

I listened to their heart-breaking testimonies of grief, pain and uncertainty. The UN stands with these families.

The hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally."

 

https://x.com/antonioguterres/status/1837263431730171931

 

[Bkk Brian]

53 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Another war in the M E- just what we didn't need.

 

It'll keep the bomb makers in the US happy though- the profits just keep rolling in. They need another war if Ukraine ends.

 

IMO the world is watching as the M E slowly catches fire, and after it's all over, the usual suspects ( that could have stopped it ) will be busily diverting attention elsewhere.

 

IMO, the only question is if the US will send the army/ marines/ A F to join in the fun, or will they left the israelis go it alone.

A war against terrorists, yes of course you don't want that.

 

For the third time this week, Israel has scored a major scalp: the killing of Ibrahim Aqil, a senior Hezbollah commander, and leader of the group's elite Radwan force.

https://news.sky.com/story/top-hezbollah-commander-killed-in-israeli-strike-on-beirut-sources-tell-reuters-13218490

 

This senior Hezbollah leader was responsible for countless attacks including the bombing of the U.S. embassy in Beirut that killed 63 people.

 

 

Of course I realize all these targeted strikes at the terrorists must all be a little overbearing for you.