Why did Israel bomb Lebanon?

Jane Anderson
Jane Anderson
Pourquoi Israel bombarded Liban?

This Tuesday, Israel announced that it had struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. The Jewish state claimed to have killed a member of the Lebanese movement.

It is time for retaliation for Israel. After the death of 12 young people on the Golan Heights on Saturday July 27, Israel promised a response to Hezbollah, based in Lebanon.

Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, suffered an attack on July 30. Israel targeted commander Fouad Chokr, who played “a leading role in Hezbollah’s operations against Israel from southern Lebanon”. “Israeli Air Force fighters eliminated the top military official of the terrorist organization Hezbollah and the head of its strategic unit, Fouad Chokr, in the Beirut region”the army said in a statement. However, he survived, according to Hezbollah.

Why such reprisals?

Hezbollah is accused by Israel and the United States of being behind Saturday’s deadly shooting on the town of Majdal Shams, located in the part of the Syrian Golan Heights annexed by the Israeli state.

The attack took the lives of 12 young people aged ten to 16 while playing on a football stadium. An unacceptable situation for Israel. Hezbollah has “crossed the red line”, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Tuesday evening, a few minutes after the strike.

The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, also spoke in promising Monday a “severe response” on the attack.

What happened in Beirut, Lebanon?

In the southern suburbs of the capital of Lebanonit is a real battlefield. In images, roofs of buildings collapse and debris litters the ground. Among the crowds and the wreckage of vehicles, ambulances dodge passers-by to help the victims.

Israel’s attack killed three civiliansa wife and two children. According to a preliminary assessment from the local health ministry, Another 74 people were injured.

Israel’s target was Hezbollah supporters. The army has “hit around ten Hezbollah terrorist targets in seven different areas”she indicated. If she claims to have eliminated Commander Fouad Chokr in this attack, a source close to Hezbollah denies the information. Fouad Chokr, who plays “a leading role in Hezbollah’s operations against Israel from southern Lebanon”would be still alive.

Towards a spread of the Israel-Hamas conflict?

The situation between the two states is causing international concern.

Hezbollah is an ally of Hamas. Since the war in the Gaza Strip, Hezbollah has provided support to the Palestinians in Gaza. The movement opened a front against Israel in southern Lebanon the day after the Israeli attack on October 7 sparking the war. From, the Lebanese movement and the Israeli army exchange almost daily shooting at their common border.

American vice president and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris believed that Israel had the “right to defend oneself” against Hezbollah, adding: “We still need to work on a diplomatic solution to end the attacks”.

On the Lebanese side, the Lebanese Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, condemned the Israeli strike. He denounces a “criminal act” And calls on the international community to “put pressure” on Israel so that he “stops (…) his threats”.

Fearing a possible spread of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the international community is trying to ease tensions. In response to Tuesday’s strikes, Hezbollah said it launched several attacks, including two in northern Israel.

Also read: Who was Ismaïl Haniyeh, leader of Hamas and killed by Israel?