Hezbollah says it is not seeking to widen conflict with Israel but \u2018will not allow Israel to secure any victories\u2019
\n LEBANON
\nHezbollah, an ally of Palestinian freedom fighting group Hamas, says it has been striking Israel in support of Palestinians under Israeli bombardment in Gaza. It has previously said it will commit to a cease fire when the Israeli offensive on Gaza stops.
\nHezbollah deputy leader Sheikh Naim Qassem told broadcaster Al Jazeera that the group\u2019s decision was not to widen the war but that it would fight one if it was imposed on it. Qassem said the Lebanon front would not stop until the Gaza war stops, Al Jazeera quoted him as saying.
\nHe asserted Hezbollah\u2019s readiness for battle and its determination not to allow Israel to claim any victories. Qassem warned of dire consequences should Israel seek to expand the war into Lebanon, promising destructionand displacement in Israel as a response. He stated unequivocally that Hezbollah is prepared for an all-out war if Israel chooses to initiate one.
\nHezbollah and Israel have been engaged in hostilities for the past eight months, coinciding with Israel\u2019s ongoing offensive in Gaza.
\nIsrael has killed more than 36,400 Palestinians and wounded at least 82,600 others during its wart on Gaza following the October 2023 Hamas attack that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis.
\nThis ongoing exchange of fire between Israel and Lebanon has also raised concerns about the potential for a broader conflict between these well-armed adversaries.
\nQassem highlighted the enduring connection between the Lebanese front and Gaza, echoing sentiments expressed by Hezbollah\u2019s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who has consistently characterized the group\u2019s support for Gaza as unwavering.
\nThe cross-border violence, which has fluctuated over recent months, escalated in recent days. Hezbollah announced on Tuesday that it had launched a squadron of one-way attack drones at an Israeli military barracks for the second consecutive day, citing it as a response to a deadly Israeli attack on Lebanon. Meanwhile, sirens blared in northern Israel, underscoring the heightened tensions in the region.
\n\u201cThe current situation is not sustainable,\u201d remarked an unnamed official, highlighting that the ongoing hostilities represent the most severe escalation between Israel and Hezbollah since their conflict in 2006.
\nTens of thousands of individuals on either side of the border have been compelled to evacuate their residences. Israel\u2019s war cabinet is scheduled to convene later on Tuesday, primarily to address the situation on the northern front.
\nIsraeli government spokesperson David Mencer remarked on Tuesday that the ongoing conflict in the north is unsustainable. He affirmed Israel\u2019s commitment to ensuring the safety of evacuated Israelis.
\nMencer stated that it is Hezbollah\u2019s decision whether this is achieved through diplomatic negotiations or force, asserting Israel\u2019s stance in defending its sovereignty.
\nAmos Hochstein, a senior adviser to US President Joe Biden involved in diplomatic efforts for de-escalation, suggested last week that a phased implementation of a land border agreement between Israel and Lebanon could help alleviate tensions.
\nEducation Minister Yoav Kisch, a member of the right-wing Likud Party and not part of Israel\u2019s war cabinet, stated on Israeli Army Radio on Monday that Israel must engage in military action to push Hezbollah beyond the Litani River, situated near the Lebanese city of Tyre, approximately 19 kilometers (12 miles) from the border. Since October 7, Israeli strikes have reportedly killed around 300 Hezbollah members and approximately 80 civilians. In return, attacks from Lebanon into Israel have resulted in the deaths of 18 Israeli soldiers and 10 civilians, according to the Israeli military. On Monday, rockets launched from Lebanon caused wildfires in northern Israel.
\nHezbollah stated on Monday that it had deployed a squadron of drones against an Israeli target in retaliation for Israel\u2019s killing of a Hezbollah member. While Hezbollah has utilized drones in the conflict previously, this marked the first time it openly declared launching a squadron of them.
\nThe group asserted that Tuesday\u2019s drone launch was in response to what it deemed an Israeli assassination in the border town of Naqoura.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hezbollah says it is not seeking to widen conflict with Israel but \u2018will not allow Israel to secure any victories\u2019 LEBANON Hezbollah, an ally of Palestinian freedom fighting group Hamas, says it has been striking Israel in support of Palestinians under Israeli bombardment in Gaza. It has previously said it will commit to a cease […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":411106,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-411090","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n