Tensions Rise as Israel and Hezbollah Edge Closer to War

[Social Media]

 

Despite growing international pressure to de-escalate, both Israel and Hezbollah signaled a readiness to intensify their cross-border conflict. On Sunday, Hezbollah’s deputy chief, Naim Qassem, declared that the militant group had entered a "new phase" in its battle against Israel. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel had inflicted "a series of blows on Hezbollah that it could have never imagined" following intense rocket fire from Lebanon.

 

Hezbollah hit residential area in Haifa

#BREAKING Hezbollah hit residential area in Haifa area in its widest attack on northern Israel since the start of the war. But it did not hit any military target despite all of its bravado about its abilities https://t.co/98nMdATdq8 pic.twitter.com/VKyn6t9iP2

— Guy Elster (@guyelster) September 22, 2024

 

Both leaders issued these statements after attacks on northern Israel sent hundreds of thousands of residents into bomb shelters, causing significant damage in the Haifa area.

 

Netanyahu emphasized that Israel would not tolerate attacks on its citizens. "No country can tolerate attacks on its citizens," he said, nearly a year after Hamas launched its attack on Israel on October 7, triggering the Gaza war. That conflict has since drawn in Iran-backed groups, including Hezbollah. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reiterated that military actions would continue until the northern communities of Israel were secure. "This is our goal, this is our mission, and we will employ the means necessary to achieve it," Gallant asserted.

 

Hundreds of thousands of Israeli civilians spent their night hiding in bomb shelters

Hezbollah’s terrorism targets civilians.

Hundreds of thousands of Israeli civilians spent their night hiding in bomb shelters, while barrages of rockets were flying over their heads, some hitting their homes, and rocket alert sirens were constantly sounding throughout the night.… pic.twitter.com/2XzgAQQ7Fp

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 22, 2024

 

 

Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, Israel’s army chief, also reinforced the country’s stance, stating in a video message that the military would "hit anyone who threatens" Israelis. Israel’s closest ally, the United States, has warned that further escalation is not in Israel’s "best interest." President Joe Biden said his administration was working tirelessly to prevent a broader conflict, stating, "We’re going to do everything we can to keep a wider war from breaking out. And we’re still pushing hard."

 

 

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed concern that Lebanon could become "another Gaza," warning of the risks as both sides show no interest in a ceasefire. Over the weekend, Hezbollah’s rocket fire reached the Israeli city of Kiryat Bialik, near Haifa, where several buildings and vehicles were set ablaze. Sharon Hacmishvili, a resident, captured the grim reality, saying, "This is not pleasant. This is war."

 

Israel’s military focus appears to be shifting toward Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group, following nearly a year of sporadic cross-border clashes that began in October. An Israeli airstrike on Friday in southern Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold, killed Ibrahim Aqil, the head of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force. Lebanon’s health ministry reported that the strike killed 45 people. The violence escalated after a series of blasts targeting communication devices across Lebanon earlier in the week, which killed 39 people and injured nearly 3,000, actions that were attributed to Israel.

 

At Aqil’s funeral, Hezbollah’s Naim Qassem vowed that the group was ready to face any military scenario. "We have entered a new phase, namely an open reckoning," Qassem said. "Threats will not stop us... We are ready to face all military possibilities." Hezbollah’s Radwan Force has played a pivotal role in ground operations, and Israel has repeatedly demanded that its fighters withdraw from the border areas.

 

UN special coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, voiced grave concerns, warning that the region was "on the brink of an imminent catastrophe." Israel’s military reported that more than 150 rockets, missiles, and drones were fired into its territory on Sunday, most originating from Lebanon. In response, Israel targeted Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese health ministry confirmed that three people were killed in these strikes, while Hezbollah reported the loss of two fighters.

 

As the violence continues, both sides seem locked in a cycle of retaliation, with Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah declaring that Israel would face consequences for the recent attacks. Meanwhile, truce talks remain stalled, as the exchanges of fire claim lives and displace tens of thousands on both sides of the border.

 

Credit: RFI (Radio France Internationale) | X 2024-09-23

 

 

 

[Tug]

I think they are there already unfortunately…….

[Andre0720]

All because of the culture of 'HATE', prevalent in the muslim culture. They teach children from a very young age to hate people from other cultures.