Attacking Hezbollah, Israel fighter jets launch strikes across Lebanon
- August 26, 2024
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
No Comments
Attacking Hezbollah, Israel fighter jets launch strikes across Lebanon
Sub: IR
Sec: Places in news
Context:
- Israel launched a series of air strikes across Lebanon in what it said was a pre-emptive strike to avert a large Hezbollah attack.
- Israeli Prime Minister also warned that the strikes in Lebanon were “not the final word” in Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah.
- Soon after, Hezbollah said it had launched an attack on Israeli military positions as an initial response to the killing of a Lebanese military leader in an Israeli air strike.
Heightened tensions:
- Exchange of fire appears to have ended for now and both sides claim to have only targeted military sites.
- Situation remains tense, with potential for further escalation.
Background of the issue:
- On October 8, 2023, a significant escalation in the Israel-Hamas conflict occurred when Hamas launched a large-scale surprise attack on Israel.
- In response, Israel undertook extensive military operations in Gaza, aiming to neutralize Hamas’ capabilities and infrastructure.
- The escalation led to severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza and heightened tensions across the region.
- Hezbollah, a Shiite militant group based in Lebanon, has historically supported Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist organization.
- Hezbollah has provided military support and financial aid to Hamas in the ongoing conflict with Israel.
- While the Lebanese government officially maintains a stance of neutrality, Hezbollah and Israel have exchanged fire along the Lebanon-Israel border.
Peace talks:
- Egypt is hosting high-level talks to broker a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
About Hezbollah:
- Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist political party and militant group based in Lebanon.
- It emerged in the 1980s as a response to the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon.
- It is designated as a terrorist organisation by several countries, including US and Israel.
- The group is currently involved in Lebanese politics, holding seats in the Parliament and participating in the government.
- It is a part of the axis of resistance grouping.