After nine months of cross-border conflict with Hezbollah, Israel is bracing for a full-scale war in Lebanon, citing that the time for diplomacy is running out. Hezbollah, a militia and political party that emerged from Lebanon’s civil war to become one of the strongest non-state actors in the Middle East, has been gearing up for this moment since 2006 when Israeli forces last invaded the country. The group has received substantial shipments of rockets and drones from Iran, its primary sponsor, and has begun manufacturing its own weapons. Armed with air defense capabilities, Hezbollah is a force to be reckoned with. Analysts estimate that Hezbollah possesses between 130,000 and 150,000 rockets and missiles, surpassing the stockpile of its ally, Hamas. The Lebanese group claims to have over 100,000 soldiers, more than double the high-end estimates of Hamas’s prewar fighting force. Hezbollah’s arsenal includes various types of missiles, rockets, and explosives-laden drones, posing a grave threat to Israel’s defense systems. The conflict has already taken a toll, with tens of thousands of civilians displaced and casualties on both sides. As tensions escalate, the prospect of a full-scale war looms large, raising concerns about the devastating impact it could have on both nations.
