Israeli Strikes
Israel on Thursday said it hit Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters in the Lebanese capital Beirut amid growing fears of an all-out war in the Middle East following recent days of exchange of hostilities between Israeli troops and Iran-backed group.
Beirut’s southern suburb of Dahiye, a stronghold of Hezbollah, came under heavy attack on Thursday after Israel ordered people to leave their homes in parts of the district.
The air raids reportedly targeted Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine, rumoured successor to the group’s former chief Hassan Nasrallah, in an underground bunker. Safieddine’s fate was not clear, reports claimed.
Dahiye has witnessed a barrage of Israeli missiles for the past few weeks, including bombs that killed Nasrallah a week ago.
Hezbollah also said it carried out new strikes, targeting what it called Israel’s “Sakhnin base” for military industries in Haifa Bay on the Mediterranean coast of northern Israel and “Nesher base” in Haifa.
The latest clashes between Israel and Hezbollah come two days after Iran fired more than 180 missiles into Israel – its biggest-ever assault on its regional foe – as a response to Israeli killings of Nasrallah and Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh.
Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations told a news channel that the country’s war cabinet is weighing its options and “will not sit idly by” after Iran’s attack. “What happened was an unprecedented response and as I said in the Security Council that it will be a very strong, painful response. It will be soon,” Danny Danon told CNN.
US President Joe Biden said Thursday that “we can avoid” all-out war in the Middle East. “I don’t believe there is going to be an all-out war. I think we can avoid it,” he told reporters at the White House when asked how confident he was that full-blown war in the region could be averted. “But there is a lot to do yet, a lot to do yet,” he added.
Biden was also asked whether he would support Israel striking Iran’s oil facilities. “We’re discussing that,” he told reporters, a comment that led to a surge in global oil prices.
Nearly 2,000 people have so far been killed since the start of the Israeli attacks on Lebanon over the last year, most of them in the past two weeks.
The clashes began when Hezbollah fired missiles at Israel a year ago in support of Hamas in its war with Israel in Gaza.
Background of the Conflict
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah is rooted in decades of tension, largely due to Hezbollah’s activities in southern Lebanon, the group’s military buildup, and its opposition to Israel’s existence. Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, has long maintained a strong military presence along the border with Israel, despite repeated confrontations and efforts to broker peace. Israeli officials have always expressed concern about Hezbollah’s growing influence in Lebanon and its access to sophisticated weaponry supplied by Iran. These concerns have led to periodic military strikes targeting Hezbollah’s infrastructure and weapons depots in Lebanon and Syria.
The Recent Strikes: Targeting Hezbollah’s Leadership
On the night of [insert date], Israeli warplanes conducted multiple airstrikes against what has been described as a Hezbollah intelligence headquarters located in the southern suburbs of Beirut. The strikes reportedly destroyed key infrastructure, severely damaging Hezbollah’s intelligence-gathering capabilities. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have not officially confirmed the targets of the strikes, but intelligence sources suggest that one of the main objectives was to disrupt Hezbollah’s military command and weaken its leadership structure.
Crucially, reports have emerged that one of the primary targets of the strikes was a senior Hezbollah commander identified as Naim Qassem, widely regarded as Hassan Nasrallah’s likely successor. Qassem, who has been a key figure within Hezbollah’s military and political leadership, has been involved in overseeing the group’s operations for years. His potential elimination would represent a significant blow to Hezbollah’s ability to maintain leadership continuity in the event of Nasrallah’s incapacitation or death.
Who Is Naim Qassem?
Naim Qassem has been one of the most prominent leaders within Hezbollah since the group’s inception. He has played a central role in shaping its military strategies, coordinating with Iranian officials, and overseeing the group’s activities in Syria, where Hezbollah has been fighting in support of the Assad regime. Qassem is seen as a hardline figure, fully aligned with Iran’s vision for the region, and his leadership would likely ensure the continuation of Hezbollah’s confrontational stance against Israel and its regional allies.
Qassem’s influence has grown considerably in recent years as Nasrallah’s health has reportedly deteriorated, prompting speculation that Qassem was being groomed as the future leader of the organization. His potential rise to power would have significant implications for the region, given his close ties to Iran and his deep involvement in military operations. Some analysts believe that his leadership could mark an even more aggressive posture by Hezbollah, given his experience on the battlefield and his ideological commitment to the group’s objectives.
Israel’s Strategic Objectives
Israel’s decision to target Hezbollah’s leadership and intelligence infrastructure can be seen as part of a broader strategy to weaken the group ahead of any potential conflict. Over the past several years, Israel has launched numerous airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in Syria, where the group has been active in supporting the Assad regime during the Syrian Civil War. These strikes have focused primarily on weapons shipments and infrastructure that could pose a direct threat to Israel.
However, targeting key leadership figures like Naim Qassem represents a more aggressive approach. By potentially eliminating Qassem, Israel aims to create a leadership vacuum within Hezbollah that could destabilize the group and hinder its ability to coordinate operations. Furthermore, such a strike would send a clear message to Iran, Hezbollah’s primary backer, that Israel remains committed to undermining its regional allies.
Potential Consequences and Regional Implications
The ramifications of these strikes are likely to be felt across the region. Hezbollah is known for its retaliatory strikes against Israeli targets in response to attacks on its leadership. In the past, such incidents have triggered cross-border violence, with rockets being fired from Lebanon into northern Israel, and Israel responding with artillery and airstrikes. Should Hezbollah choose to retaliate for the recent strikes, the situation could quickly escalate into a broader conflict, especially if Israel continues its targeting of senior Hezbollah leaders.
Beyond the immediate threat of military escalation, these developments could have a profound impact on the Lebanese political landscape. Hezbollah wields significant political influence in Lebanon, where it operates as both a political party and a militant group. Any major blow to its leadership could create a power vacuum that would affect not only Hezbollah’s military capabilities but also its political standing within Lebanon. Given the fragile state of the Lebanese government, which is already grappling with an economic crisis, any internal instability within Hezbollah could further complicate Lebanon’s recovery.
International Reactions
The international community has closely monitored the Israeli-Hezbollah conflict due to its potential to spark wider regional unrest. The United States, a key ally of Israel, has expressed support for Israel’s right to defend itself against threats from Hezbollah and Iran. However, other countries, including Russia and certain European nations, have urged restraint, warning that further escalation could destabilize the broader Middle East.
Iran, Hezbollah’s main sponsor, has condemned the strikes, with officials vowing to support their Lebanese ally. Iran’s backing of Hezbollah has long been a source of tension between Tehran and Tel Aviv, and these recent strikes will likely fuel further animosity between the two nations.
Conclusion
The Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters and a key leadership figure like Naim Qassem represent a dangerous escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. As the dust settles, the region waits to see whether Hezbollah will retaliate, potentially igniting a broader conflict. What is certain is that the targeting of senior Hezbollah leaders indicates that Israel is determined to disrupt the group’s leadership and capabilities, even if it risks triggering a violent response. The coming days will reveal how Hezbollah reacts and whether the fragile peace along the Israel-Lebanon border can be maintained.
