{"id":240243,"date":"2024-03-12T14:32:01","date_gmt":"2024-03-12T11:32:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kahawatungu.com\/?p=240243"},"modified":"2024-03-12T14:32:01","modified_gmt":"2024-03-12T11:32:01","slug":"is-israel-hoping-to-escalate-hostilities-with-hezbollah-in-lebanon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kahawatungu.com\/is-israel-hoping-to-escalate-hostilities-with-hezbollah-in-lebanon\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Israel hoping to escalate hostilities with Hezbollah in Lebanon?"},"content":{"rendered":"

After Israel killed at least one person in an attack on Baalbek, its second attack on eastern Lebanon since October 7, a reported 100 rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel, triggering sorties by Israeli fighter jets attacking various locations in Lebanon.<\/p>\n

The escalation on Monday night and into the day on Tuesday may well be fodder for more speculation by analysts who feel Israel may turn its full focus to the Lebanese front if a Gaza ceasefire is established.<\/p>\n

As attacks continued from Monday night into the day on Tuesday, the theory seemed more possible to some.<\/p>\n

\u201cIsrael made it clear that once they are done with Gaza they will turn their attention to the north,\u201d Hilal Khashan, a professor of political science at the American University of Beirut, said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey want Hezbollah away from their border [be it] diplomatically or militarily. They\u2019ve been clear on this matter.\u201d<\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s relentless war on Gaza has killed more than 31,000 Palestinians since an October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas\u2019s Qassam Brigades and other Palestinian armed factions, when 1,139 were killed.<\/p>\n

Also Read:\u00a0Netanyahu Rejects Hamas Conditions For Israeli Hostage Deal<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Recent ceasefire talks in Cairo ended without a resolution, meaning the human catastrophes will continue for now, including the very real prospect of famine, with people in Gaza already starving to death.<\/p>\n

To the north, Lebanese group Hezbollah has engaged Israel with cross-border attacks since Israel launched its attacks on Gaza.<\/p>\n

More than 300 people have been killed in Lebanon, including some 240 members of Hezbollah, while about 20 Israelis have been killed in the cross-border violence.<\/p>\n

The fighting has also forced some 90,000 people to flee southern Lebanon, according to a report released in late February by the International Organization for Migration, while in Israel 80,000 people were evacuated from northern towns and villages by the Israeli government, according to Israeli media.<\/p>\n

While attacks had initially been close to the border, the Israeli military has launched targeted attacks as far north as Beirut and recently hit near the city of Sidon, about a half-hour drive from the capital, and near Baalbek in the east.<\/p>\n

\u201cIsrael is expanding the circle of war little by little but so far there is no decision for a comprehensive war,\u201d Kassem Kassir, an analyst close to Hezbollah, told Al Jazeera.<\/p>\n

\u201c[Hezbollah] cannot withdraw [from the conflict] before stopping the war on Gaza and agreeing on a comprehensive solution.\u201d<\/p>\n

Israel is demanding that Hezbollah pull their forces back behind the Litani River, roughly 30km (19 miles) north of the border, but analysts said that seems unlikely to happen.<\/p>\n

\"Smoke
Smoke billows following an Israeli strike on the Lebanese side of the disputed Shebaa Farms in southern Lebanon on March 10, 2024, amid cross-border tensions Israel continues its assault on Gaza [AFP]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\u201cIf Hezbollah pulls out of the south they would have to disarm and I don\u2019t think they\u2019d agree diplomatically,\u201d Khashan said. \u201c[But] if Hezbollah does not pull out, Israel will take action.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n
\n

Table of Contents<\/p>\nToggle<\/span><\/path><\/svg><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n