Israel and Hezbollah traded heavy fire early Sunday morning before backing off from sparking a larger conflict. The confrontation was the most intense exchange in several months, amid increasing tensions on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon.
The attack was said to have been delayed in order to allow for ceasefire talks in Gaza, according to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. The attack was also reportedly in response to Israel’s killing of a top Hezbollah military commander, Fouad Shukur. A spokesperson for the Israeli military claimed that Shukur was responsible for the recent rocket attacks on the town of Majdal Shams, which killed 12 young people in the Golan Heights region of Syria (occupied by Israelis).
Nasrallah said, “At this current stage, the country can take a breath and relax.” He also added that the Houthi rebels in Yemen (supported by Iran), as well as Iran itself, may join the fight. The Israeli military reported one Navy soldier was killed and two additional were wounded. Hezbollah reported two fighters killed, along with another from an allied group.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that the Israel Defense Forces successfully took out thousands of rockets aimed at northern Israel and many drones working their way towards the center of the country. Hezbollah, working with Iran in Lebanon, has been stockpiling rockets to aid their efforts against Israel. Earlier this month, Hezbollah released a video of a “Missile City” in Lebanon, a part of a large network of military installations.
⚡️BREAKING
— Iran Observer (@IranObserver0) August 16, 2024
Hezbollah has unveiled for the first time a large underground missile city, equipped with precision missiles ready to be launched pic.twitter.com/7SWNrddEqh
Despite the intensifying of the conflict, Lebanon’s Economic Minister Amin Salam said Lebanese officials were “feeling a bit more optimistic” following an emergency government meeting. “We feel reassured since both sides confirmed that the expected operations ended,” he added.
In 10 months of fighting, over 400 Hezbollah militants have been killed by the Israeli military. As of May 2024, 22 Israelis had been killed by Hezbollah since October of 2023. Fighting began on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon shortly after the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas against Israel.
