Lebanon: Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Naim Qassem, has released a alert warning to Israel regarding the potential expansion of its conflict with Lebanon.
Qassem cautioned that a full-scale war could impact in large losses on both sides and take over hundreds of thousands more Israelis from the northern regions of the country. His warning came amid rising fire as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly on the verge of launching a significant military operation against Hezbollah on the northern border.
The ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, which have intensified since Israel’s conflict with Gaza began in October, have already affirmed numerous lives and displaced tens of thousands on both sides. Hezbollah’s attacks on Israeli targets have been framed as solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, with the group indicating that these actions will persist until Israeli troops withdraw from Gaza.
In his speech in Beirut, Qassem reiterated Hezbollah’s stance of not seeking a broader conflict but warned that should Israel choose to escalate, the repercussions would be severe. He highlighted that such an escalation would not only fail to resolve the current displacement crisis but could significantly deteriorate it, with potentially hundreds of thousands more displaced.
In parallel, Israeli military sources and officials, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, have suggested that a change in focus towards Hezbollah could be imminent. Gallant noted that Israeli forces are nearing the finalisation of their operations in Gaza and are preparing to redirect their efforts to the northern front. Meanwhile, Israeli opposition leader Benny Gantz has criticised the government for its perceived inaction regarding the security of northern residents and has called for decisive action against Hezbollah.
Recent Israeli airstrikes targeted suspected Hezbollah weapon storage sites in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley and southern regions, resulting in several injuries, including children. Hezbollah has responded with multiple attacks on Israeli military positions, further escalating the conflict.
As both sides brace for potential further escalation, the humanitarian impact continues to grow, with the conflict already having inflicted significant casualties and displacement on both sides of the border.
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