On Sunday, Lebanon experienced the most massive aerial bombing it has seen since the Second Lebanon War in 2006, and in fact, probably ever: 1,600 targets were attacked, most of them residential homes where Hezbollah has stored long-range missiles and rockets, and even cruise missiles and drones. The IDF warned Lebanese civilians in advance to evacuate sites belonging to Hezbollah, but at least 500 people were killed in the bombings, most of them terrorist operatives.
In parallel with these attacks, which spread across the entire region of southern Lebanon and the baqua Valley, the Air Force carried out a targeted attack on Beirut’s Dahiya, with the target being Ali Karachi, one of the leaders of Hezbollah’s military wing, and one of the few at the top that Israel has not yet thwarted. As of this hour, the fate of Karachi – dead, wounded or exploited – has not yet been determined.
Hezbollah’s response to this escalation was surprisingly weak, with fewer than 200 launches toward Israel, though at more southern targets than had been fired so far, with some of the launches reaching the Ariel area. Most of the shooting was intercepted by Israel’s defense systems before it reached its targets, and several people were injured – a small price compared to the damage that was caused yesterday to Hezbollah.
“I want to clarify Israel’s policy: We are not waiting for the threat – we are ahead of it, in every arena, everywhere, at any time,” Netanyahu said. “Our hands are still stretched out. Whoever’s trying to hurt us, we’re hurting him, and more … We will change the balance of power in the north.” According to reports, the chief of staff defined the name of the offensive operation on the Lebanese front this last week as “northern arrows.”
The pressure on Hezbullah from home is increasing, as huge traffic jams of Lebanese residents fleeing north from the terror of the Israeli war were observed. In contrast, Israel has no pressure at all, and surprisingly the countries of the world have hardly officially addressed the attack – most of them waiting to see what will hapen. Indeed, this is a big question, and the answer is in the hands of Hezbollah, which at this stage sees the absolute Israeli superiority in using force. Will Hezbollah risk a war of annihilation that will lead to the destruction of its organization? Or will Nasrallah take a step back and end the war of attrition with Israel? Either way, the final victory will be Israeli.
