Recent tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have escalated as both sides engaged in cross-border fire, raising fears of a potential regional conflict. Israel’s approval of plans for a Lebanon offensive and Hezbollah’s vow to rain rockets on Israel have heightened the situation.
Hezbollah retaliated by firing rockets into northern Israel following an air strike in south Lebanon that killed one of its operatives. The Israeli military responded by striking weapons storage facilities and other targets belonging to Hezbollah, as well as intercepting suspicious aerial targets.
Experts are divided on the likelihood of a wider war, which has been ongoing since Hamas’s attack last October. The United States, Israel’s main military backer, has been working to prevent further escalation and encourage a diplomatic resolution.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned that no part of Israel would be safe from their rockets if a wider war broke out. Meanwhile, the situation has also impacted Cyprus, with threats made against the country if it allowed Israel to target Lebanon from its bases.
The US has been involved in conflicts related to Iran-backed groups in Yemen as well, while the UN is working towards de-escalation in Lebanon. The violence has taken a toll on both sides, causing casualties and displacing tens of thousands of people.