Are Israel and Lebanon on the Brink of War?

https://www.france24.com/en/20190710-usa-puts-lebanon-hezbollah-mps-sanctions-blacklist-first-time-iran
In recent weeks, there have been increasing tensions between Israel and Lebanon, with both parties actually taking minor military action. Israel and Lebanon haven’t been in a serious clash since the Israel-Hezbollah war of 2006, which was extremely devastating for both Israel and Lebanon. However, it seems as though a new conflict might be stirring up. It started when Israel shot a drone strike into Syria due to security concerns that members of Hezbollah were planning an attack on Israel, killing two Hezbollah members. Syria has been the growing site for transfer of weapons from Iran to Hezbollah (hence Syria being the target of the attack). The Iran-backed terrorist organization Hezbollah responded by firing back into Israel, and there are growing concerns that the military action will only increase. 
Hezbollah and its place in the Middle East is complicated; Hezbollah is backed financially and militarily by Iran, but it is based in Lebanon and even occupies seats in the Lebanese government. Despite it being a terrorist organization, Hezbollah is stronger and more powerful than the Lebanese army, and it protects Lebanese citizens with healthcare, financial resources, and education which the Lebanese government would otherwise not be able to provide for its people. Hezbollah presents a major concern to Israel because of its support from Iran, Israel’s biggest enemy and most urgent security concern. Israel’s conflict with Iran is behind the recent military jabs between Hezbollah and Israel, and the tensions between the two countries have only increased since the U.S. pulled out of the nuclear deal. 
Since the initial firings, Israel has killed Hezbollah members in Iraq and Hezbollah has fired anti tank missiles at a military base in the north of Israel. Neither of the countries’ attacks have been especially devastating, probably because the leaders of both countries know the implications of a second Israeli-Lebanese war, which neither country wants. Both sides want to establish their power and dominance in the region without leading to a full on war, which is a dangerous game to which I don’t know the ending. 

When I was in Israel, we traveled to a northern town and spoke to Israelis who had lived their entire lives on a kibbutz fearing a war with Lebanon. The adults on the Kibbutz told us stories of their childhood when every so often the siren would go off signaling a missile firing from Lebanon. They told us about how they would be awoken from their slumber in fear and have to rush half asleep to the bomb shelter. This was just a part of their lives. My teachers from Israel were also affected by this long standing conflict; they were actually in the Israeli army during the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war, and every one of them lost someone close to them during that war. Needless to say, because of my experiences, this become an issue that hits close to home to me and to the people I care about (including the people I know who are in the army today). It’s interesting to keep up with Israeli politics and current events knowing that although I’m not there to see them in effect first hand, so many that I love are and would be put on the line if another conflict were to arise.

For more information on the subject:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts