Israel has embarked on a bold and strategic military campaign in its northern theater, launching what it has termed "a limited ground operation" into Lebanon, a direct confrontation with the Iran-backed Hezbollah. This marks a significant escalation, signaling that Israel is no longer content with tit-for-tat exchanges along the border but is now actively reshaping the dynamics of the conflict.
Read more: See It: Israel's Ground Operation In Lebanon Explained
Hezbollah Suffers Unprecedented Losses While Iran Watches from the Sidelines, Opting for Diplomatic Posturing Over Military Intervention
Since last Friday, September 20th, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have been launching a series of devastating airstrikes against Hezbollah, Iran’s most formidable proxy in the Middle East. These operations have delivered crushing blows to the militant group, which has long served as a critical extension of Iranian power in the region. Despite the scale of Hezbollah’s suffering, Tehran has shown little appetite for direct intervention, choosing instead to focus on diplomatic engagements with the West and using this past week's United Nations General Assembly opening as the excuse.
Read more: Iran Watching From The Sidelines As Israel Decimates Hezbollah
On Friday, the Middle East trembled as a meticulously planned Israeli airstrike reduced a nine-story apartment building in Beirut’s southern suburb, a Hezbollah stronghold, to a towering mound of rubble. This particular region, long regarded as an untouchable sanctuary for the Iran-backed militant group, had until now largely remained out of the crosshairs of direct conflict. That all changed in an instant.
Read more: "Walls Closing In": Israel Has Shattered Hezbollah's Sense of Security
In a Presidential debate Tuesday night, Vice President Kamala Harris reiterated her call for a ceasefire-for-hostage deal in Gaza, yet she failed to present any actionable plan on how to achieve this, given that Hamas has consistently rejected every proposal put forth by the Biden administration, of which she is a key member. Harris' statements appeared to straddle both sides of the conflict, expressing sympathy for both Israelis and Palestinians without directly condemning Hamas for its relentless aggression and role in perpetuating the violence. This diplomatic balancing act has left many questioning her commitment to holding Hamas accountable, despite the terror group’s blatant disregard for peace and international norms.
Read more: Harris' Misplaced Sympathies Over Gaza Shows She Is No Friend Of Israel's
Khaled Meshaal, the Hamas political leader living comfortably in Qatar with a net worth in the billions, delivered a recorded speech from Istanbul that reignited the dark memories of the Second Intifada. Meshaal, who operates far from the hardships faced by the Palestinian people, urged Arabs residing in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) to return to the violent tactics that defined some of the bloodiest periods in recent history, specifically advocating for a resurgence of suicide bombings.
Read more: ErdoÄŸan Shields Hamas Leader Meshaal as He Calls for Suicide Attacks
