Israeli Strike Targets Hezbollah Commander in Beirut
Israeli Strike Targets Hezbollah Commander in Beirut
The Facts
Israel confirmed on Tuesday that it launched a strike on Beirut's southern suburbs, targeting a top Hezbollah commander it accused of being behind a rocket attack on the Golan Heights town Majdal Shams over the weekend that killed 12 children and teens.
The target of the strike was reportedly Fuad Shukr, also known as Hajj Mohsin, a senior adviser to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Israel has claimed that Shukr was also a commander of Hezbollah's precision missile project. Shukr's status is still unclear.
The Spin
Israel must be able to defend itself from terrorist attacks from Gaza or elsewhere, and the US is committed to preventing malicious actors from threatening Israel's legitimate concerns. Nonetheless, no one wants to see the situation on the Lebanese border escalate, and the US will continue working toward a diplomatic solution.
If Hezbollah continues to attack Israeli civilians, it will face an even more destructive response. Day after day, Hezbollah has fired rockets into northern Israel, displacing the population and sowing terror. Israel has shown incredible restraint due to foreign pressure, but it will soon have to act more forcefully to deal with the presence of terrorists on its borders.
Hezbollah and the regional resistance's primary goal has always been to end the war in Gaza, not start a far larger regional conflict. Hezbollah's military posture has deterred Israel, forcing it to fight on two fronts. Nonetheless, Israel's aggression against Beirut must be responded to.