The ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah terror group in southern Lebanon, combined with the escalations that began in Gaza last year in response to Hamas fighters’ surprise attack by rockets and armed drones on Israeli citizens - killing nearly 1,200 people and kidnapping at least 240 – has heightened tensions in the Middle East– making the region a geopolitical tipping point.
The recent elimination of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah – who was tracked down and killed by the Israeli forces in Beirut – has further added fuel to the fire, with the Lebanon-based terror outfit declaring that it will continue to fight against Israel despite huge losses incurred by the terror group.
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War Against Israel Will Continue: Hezbollah
Just shortly after the death of Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s top-ranking official Naim Qassim claimed that Israel’s tall claims about destroying the group’s medium and long-range missiles is a “dream that they will never achieve.”
Fueled by deep-seated historical grievances and growing ambitions of regional and global powers, these escalations are part of a larger geopolitical struggle.
Notwithstanding the growing international pressure and calls for a ceasefire in the fighting, Israel has been defiant and stuck to its right to defend its citizens against attack from the Iran-backed militants.
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Israel Engaged In War On Multiple Fronts
Israel, at the moment, appears to be fighting a war on multiple fronts – fighting with Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon and the Yemen-based Houthis.
For Israel, which has taken a pledge not to stop till it eliminates the constant threats emanating from the soil of its hostile neighbours, the ongoing escalation is "a war of survival".
While Israel’s security concerns with Hezbollah are part of its broader confrontation with Iran, the frequent rocket attacks by the Hassan Nasrallah-led group are aimed at increasing Iran’s influence across the region, particularly in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq.
World Divided Over Israel-Hezbollah Conflict
The presence of international actors like the US, and UK and more surprisingly, the stoic silence of Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia & UAE – both important players in the region’s politics, has further complicated the already volatile situation. On the other hand, Russia’s continuous backing to Syria, coupled with Moscow’s hidden ambition to increase its influence in the region has added another layer of uncertainty to this already fragile situation.
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As the conflict continues, the Joe Biden Administration in the United States – the staunchest ally of Israel – has held Hezbollah responsible for killing hundreds of Americans over a four-decade reign of terror.
It is also clearly evident from the official statement issued by the White House over the killing of Hassan Nasrallah in which it said that the Hezbollah chief’s death is a measure of justice for thousands of Americans, Israelis, and Lebanese civilians killed by the Lebanese terror group.
Behind the airstrike that killed Nasrallah lies the broader context of the conflict that began with Hamas fighters’ massacre of hundreds of innocent Israeli civilians on October 7, 2023.
The powers that be need to understand that continuous fighting and escalating tensions might further destabilize the region’s fragile economy. The present Middle East crisis is likely to impact global crude oil prices and, if not contained, the turmoil may also disrupt global supply chains, triggering spikes in energy prices.
While the Israel-Hamas-Hezbollah-Houthi conflict has the potential to redraw alliances, it can surely reshape the geopolitical landscape. Nationals like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which have called for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict from both sides, might find themselves caught between their economic interests and popular sentiments, which largely remain sympathetic to the Palestinian cause.
Human Cost Of Israel-Hezbollah-Hamas Conflict
As world leaders remain concerned about political and economic considerations, the human cost of the conflicts is staggering. Hundreds of civilians have been killed and thousands of others displaced in both Israel, Gaza and southern Lebanon, and the risk of a broader regional war looms large. The humanitarian crisis could spiral out of control if the international community does not pursue immediate de-escalation.
At the moment, the Middle- East stands at a crossroads. The ongoing violence and bloodshed between Israel, Hamas and Lebanon could further push the region into a new era of instability – all this calls for a concerted international effort to find an amicable resolution to the region's chronic conflicts and prevent further devastation.