On September 17, Israel launched a series of strikes in Lebanon. The origins of the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel have deep roots, but this is the most significant escalation in the conflict since the war between them in 2006.
Hezbollah is a terrorist organization; their jihad against Israel is rooted in their antisemitic beliefs that it is not a legitimate country. Since the devastating events of October 7, Hezbollah has launched roughly 8,000 rockets into Northern Israel. A mass displacement of Israeli citizens is the result of the fighting. Israeli officials explain that the strikes are to allow for the repopulation of Northern Israel. During the initial Israeli airstrikes, more than 500 Lebanese were killed, and 10,000 were displaced. Before the strikes, the Israeli government made 80,000 phone calls trying to evacuate the targeted areas. Israel destroyed many pivotal strategic locations that housed members of Hezbollah and weapons. In more recent strikes, they claimed to have killed a Hezbollah official said to be their next leader.
The attacks have started a new phase in the Middle Eastern conflict, shifting attention away from Gaza and possibly creating a broader conflict in the Middle East. Eli Norden ’26 explained, “It’s clear that Israel has found more success in their small-scale military operations in Lebanon than in Gaza. Still, Israel must construct a ceasefire that allows for the legitimate Lebanese government to rule, allowing all Lebanese—Muslims, Christians, and Druze—to be safe from Hezbollah’s terror operations that have no regard for any human life.”
Indresh Chandel