Israel Says Target of Beirut Strike Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah
Israel Says Target of Beirut Strike Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah
The Facts
Israel struck Beirut's southern suburbs on Friday, claiming that it had targeted Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and the group's primary military headquarters. The strike collapsed at least four residential buildings. It was Israel's largest strike in Beirut since fighting between Israel and Hezbollah began.
The strike came immediately after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly in New York, vowing that Israel would continue striking Lebanon and "degrading" Hezbollah until it had achieved its war goals.
The Spin
Though the situation in the region continues to escalate, the US has stood firm in its role as a mediator. Israel has every right to respond to Hezbollah's daily terror attacks along its northern border. However, it's is in no one's interest for tensions to explode into a wider regional war. The US will continue to work toward regional stability.
Israel has been incredibly patient regarding the situation in the north, but after a year of daily terror attacks on Israeli civilians, Israel has been forced to deal with Hezbollah more aggressively. Indeed, Friday's strike on Nasrallah demonstrates that Israel has established new "rules of engagement." that will prove to Hezbollah that its hubris has led to its destruction. Israel wants peace more than anyone, but it cannotcan't allow Hezbollah and other Iran-backed terror groups to threaten its society in such an existential way.
Though Nasrallah's status is still unclear, Israel's attack on Beirut is surely a grievous war crime, as it flattened multiple residential buildings full of people. Israel has escalated the situation in the region every chance it has gotten, with the US supporting it every step of the way. Indeed, Israel may expand its genocidal campaign that began in Gaza to Lebanon.
The attacks against Lebanon are a clear example of Israeli terrorism in the region and its disregard for human life. Hezbollah opened a support front with Israel to stand in solidarity with Gaza which has faced a genocidal Israeli campaign. Its attacks will end when Israel withdraws from Gaza. Nonetheless, Hezbollah is ready and able to defend Lebanon from Israeli aggression.