Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) commandos are reportedly operating inside southern Lebanon targeting Hezbollah in response to heightened aggression from the terror group. The current operation comes after an explosion injured four IDF soldiers during a covert mission several hundred meters inside Lebanese territory an attack that Hezbollah swiftly claimed responsibility for.
According to the Israeli military the explosion took place during an “operational activity” involving elite units from the Golani Brigade’s reconnaissance team and the Yahalom combat engineering squad. The presence of the Yahalom unit which specializes in tunnel operations indicates a concerted effort by the IDF to identify and neutralize tunnels constructed by Hezbollah that may extend into Israel.
Israeli Commandos Operating Inside Lebanon to Remove Hezbollah https://t.co/otsKf3F2Lm via @BreitbartNews
— James Keay (@reach147) April 16, 2024
In parallel the IDF carried out airstrikes targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon primarily focusing on buildings being used by the terror group. Artillery shelling originating from the Israeli side of the border has also been reported.
Since the start of October Hezbollah has ramped up its attacks on northern Israeli communities and military posts employing a combination of rockets drones and anti-tank missiles as part of its declared support for Gaza amidst ongoing conflicts in the region. Iran has reportedly been directing and funding Hezbollah as well as Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad inside Lebanon.
The persistent aggression from Hezbollah has forced around 70,000 Israeli civilians to evacuate from areas near the conflict zone disrupting lives and livelihoods. The skirmishes have resulted in the deaths of 10 IDF soldiers and reservists while Hezbollah has acknowledged losing 274 of its fighters mostly in Lebanon.
The U.N. has deployed peacekeepers in southern Lebanon under the provisions of Security Council Resolution 1707. Although the resolution aims to prevent Hezbollah from maintaining a military presence near the Israeli border it has largely failed to achieve that objective. The Israeli military is increasingly voicing public frustration over the ineffectiveness of U.N. mandates.
As the situation unfolds the international community’s response will be pivotal in determining the next steps. While the West is urging the continuation of diplomatic efforts if those efforts fail Israel likely will see no alternative but to escalate its military responses. The ongoing risk of escalation is heightening tensions across the Middle East and globally.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah backed by Iran threatens to destabilize the region further and involve other actors. The international community must work together to find a diplomatic solution and prevent the situation from escalating out of control. The stakes are high and the consequences of failure could be devastating for the region and beyond.
