ESCALATING CONFLICT: Israel’s covert operations in Lebanon could lead to all-out war with Hezbollah

09/24/2024 / By Richard Brown

Military analysts suspect that Israel’s recent operation targeting Hezbollah communication devices that killed dozens of people and injured thousands is a prelude to a larger military offensive in southern Lebanon.

Reports indicate that the Israeli cabinet has authorized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant to take military action against Hezbollah, potentially escalating into full-scale war.

The Israeli detonation of electronic and communications devices in Lebanon have killed at least 37 people and injured more than 3,400, with the casualty count expected to rise in the coming days.

Gallant announced a “new phase” of operations against Hezbollah along northern Israel, and statements from senior officials indicate that an extensive confrontation is looming. This follows a wave of explosions targeting Hezbollah’s walkie-talkies and other electronic devices, echoing a previous attack on Hezbollah-issued pagers. (Related: Thousands of handheld radios EXPLODE in second wave of Israeli attacks on Lebanon.)

In response to these developments, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have redeployed their 98th Division from operations in the Gaza Strip to the northern border with Lebanon.

The paratroopers and commandos will join the existing 36th Division under Northern Command, enhancing military readiness as tensions continue to escalate.

Eyewitness accounts and reports from regional media confirm ongoing blasts in Beirut, including detonations of handheld radios used by Hezbollah members.

Al-Manar TV, affiliated with Hezbollah, has reported that these devices exploded in various areas. Multiple ambulances have been observed rushing to the sites of these explosions, signaling that the Israeli operation aimed at disrupting Hezbollah’s communications is far from over.

Hezbollah had relied on encrypted pagers for secure communication, believing that older technology would be less susceptible to interception.

However, experts assert that Israel has effectively penetrated Hezbollah’s telecommunications. Jody Westby of Global Cyber Risk noted that the use of pagers was intended to provide security, but the recent operations reveal a significant Israeli capability to disrupt those lines of communication.

War correspondent Elijah Magnier highlighted the strategic nature of these attacks, emphasizing that crippling communication systems is vital in warfare. He remarked that the initial phase of any conflict often targets command and control structures, and Israel’s focus on communication underscores the seriousness of their intent.

Meanwhile, there are reports that the United Nations and other international entities are facing scrutiny amid allegations of espionage linked to Israel, further complicating the situation in the region. As the conflict escalates, the implications for both local and international stakeholders remain uncertain.

Lebanon warns of “doomsday” should Israel invade

Lebanese ambassador to the United Kingdom Rami Mortada has warned that an Israeli ground invasion into Lebanon would be a “doomsday” scenario for Israel that will result in an all-out regional conflict that could see Israel under intense conflict on multiple fronts, and it could even lead to the radicalization of Lebanese and Palestinian migrants in Europe.

Mortada noted that Israel would not just have to face off with Hezbollah’s forces. He warned that the country’s armed forces would not “stand idly” by and watch Israel mount an invasion of Lebanon.

“We are facing all the risks of an all-out regional conflict and that’s what we have been tirelessly trying to avoid,” said Mortada, who warned that Hezbollah has become a “formidable fighting force” in recent years and that Israel should learn from its past “humiliating” defeats, including its previous inconclusive invasion of Lebanon in 2006.

“Let’s hope that we don’t get there because this is a doomsday scenario for everyone. It’s definitely a doomsday for Lebanon, but Lebanon will not hurt alone in this war,” added Mortada. “That’s what recent history taught us. So all efforts should be focused on avoiding such an outcome.”

Watch this video from Southfront Press about how Israel’s recent attack on Hezbollah pagers and other communications devices shows the country’s government is clamoring for war with Lebanon.

This video is from the channel The Prisoner on Brighteon.com.