Hezbollah declares “new phase” of war, Israel issues warning to “hit anyone”

New Delhi: Israel and Hezbollah have threatened to intensify their cross-border attacks, ignoring calls from the international community to de-escalate tensions and back off from a potential full-blown war.

Here are 10 points on this big news:

1. Hezbollah deputy chief Naim Qassem issued a defiant message that the group has entered “a new phase” in its confrontation with Israel. Qassem made his comments after Israeli attacks on northern Lebanon that targeted Hezbollah strongholds, resulting in extensive damage and many casualties.
2. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant reiterated Israel’s commitment to ensuring the safety of its northern residents, saying, “Military action will continue until we reach a point where we can ensure the safe return of Israel’s northern communities to their homes.” As both sides continue to harden their stance, army chief Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi has vowed that Israel will “strike at anyone who threatens” its citizens.
3. Israel’s biggest ally the United States has urged restraint. President Joe Biden stressed that military escalation is not in Israel’s “best interest” and that the US is working tirelessly to prevent a wider conflict. “We are going to do everything we can to prevent a wider war,” Biden said.
4. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also reiterated similar concerns, warning of the risk of Lebanon becoming “another Gaza” amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.
5. Over the weekend, Hezbollah fired a barrage of rockets that reached Kiryat Bialik, near Israel’s largest northern city Haifa, causing damage to infrastructure and raising fears of further escalation of tensions. In retaliation, Israel attacked Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, including an airbase and military production facilities. Israel’s civil defense agency ordered schools in the north to close due to the shooting.
6. Lebanon’s health ministry reported three people were killed in Israeli attacks in southern areas, while Hezbollah confirmed two of its fighters were killed. The Israeli military reported more than 150 rockets, missiles and drones were fired from Lebanon into its territory overnight.
7. Recent Israeli airstrikes, including an attack on the densely populated Dahiyah neighborhood in Beirut, killed Ibrahim Aqeel, the head of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force.
8. Hezbollah has signaled it will not back down, with Qassim saying the group is ready to face “all military possibilities.” This comes as Israel continues to target Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, in an attempt to prevent the group from expanding its influence along the Israeli-Lebanese border.
9. Despite mediation efforts led by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, the conflict shows no signs of abating. Efforts to secure a ceasefire and facilitate the release of hostages have stalled, with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelati indicating that the situation between Israel and Hezbollah is negatively affecting efforts to stabilise Gaza.
10. The United Nations has described the situation as “on the verge of imminent disaster”.