JERUSALEM/BEIRUT, Oct 1 – Tensions in the Middle East escalated on Tuesday as Israeli forces launched ground operations into Lebanon for the first time in 18 years. This comes in response to missile strikes on Tel Aviv by Hezbollah, Lebanon’s most formidable militia group. Washington, alarmed by the growing conflict, issued a warning that Iran, Hezbollah’s principal backer, might retaliate with a ballistic missile aimed at Israel.
Although Israeli officials have characterized the ground operations as limited in scope, the incursion marks a significant escalation. Israel’s forces are now facing Hezbollah in what may become one of the largest confrontations in the region since the recent Gaza conflict. The Israeli military has also intensified airstrikes, claiming to have decimated Hezbollah’s leadership in Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of over a thousand Lebanese civilians and displacing more than a million people from their homes.
Iran, which sponsors Hezbollah, has not stayed silent. Tehran has vowed to retaliate, fueling fears that the conflict may spill over beyond Lebanon’s borders. Despite diplomatic efforts from the U.S. to contain the situation, Iran’s potential involvement would bring about severe consequences. A senior U.S. official has stated that Washington is prepared to assist Israel in defending against any direct military strike from Tehran. Reports suggest that Iran could launch a ballistic missile capable of reaching Israel within 12 minutes, further raising the stakes.
In the city of Sidon, south of Beirut, families mourn the loss of loved ones who perished in Israeli airstrikes. Abdulhamid Ramadan, a local resident, tearfully recounted his loss. “The building was hit, and I couldn’t protect my daughter or anyone else. My son and I survived, but I lost my wife and daughter. I’ve lost my home and my family,” he said, his voice trembling with sorrow.
The scenes of devastation have ignited calls for resistance across Lebanon, not just from Hezbollah but from citizens who feel the weight of the conflict. “It’s not just Hezbollah. All of Lebanon will stand against Israel this time for what they have done in Gaza and now here,” said Abu Alaa, a Sidon resident determined to defend his country.
The capital city of Beirut has also been the target of Israeli airstrikes. In the Jnah distr Many families have fled their homes, some setting up makeshift camps along the coastline, unsure of how long they will remain displaced. ict and southern suburbs, Israel’s military struck high-rise buildings, temporarily closing the road to the city’s airport. “We have no idea how long we’ll be here. It might be weeks, maybe even months, until the fighting stops,” said Mohamed Terkmene, a Syrian refugee in Lebanon who now finds himself displaced once again.
Israel, which has long sought to secure its northern border, began launching limited ground raids into southern Lebanon. According to Israeli security officials, these raids targeted Hezbollah strongholds and aimed to prevent future attacks. However, no direct clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters have been reported. Despite the relatively small scale of the raids, Israel has mobilized additional reserve brigades, indicating that further military actions may be on the horizon.
This latest round of conflict has reignited memories of Israel’s troubled history in Lebanon. The country was previously invaded by Israel in 1982 during Lebanon’s civil war, and Israeli troops withdrew in 2000 after years of fighting. In 2006, another major conflict broke out between Israel and Hezbollah, leaving deep scars on both sides. Since then, the U.N. has maintained a peacekeeping force along the border to monitor the fragile peace.
Hezbollah, formed in the early 1980s with Iran’s support, has since grown into Lebanon’s most powerful military and political force. It commands a vast arsenal of missiles and rockets and remains a key player in the broader network of Iranian-backed groups in the region. Israel dealt Hezbollah a major blow last Saturday when it killed Hassan Nasrallah, the group’s leader of over 30 years, in a targeted airstrike. Nasrallah’s death sent shockwaves through the organization, following a string of Israeli strikes on Hezbollah’s infrastructure across Lebanon.
The killing of Nasrallah has bolstered Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s popularity after his administration faced criticism a year ago for failing to prevent a deadly Hamas attack that claimed over 1,200 Israeli lives. However, the conflict in Gaza has continued unabated, with over 41,500 Palestinians killed in the violence.
Despite the intense military campaign, Israeli officials stress that their operations are not aimed at the Lebanese people but solely at Hezbollah. IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari stated that Israeli commandos discovered tunnels, weapons caches, and other materials that indicate Hezbollah was planning a large-scale attack on Israel. Hezbollah has not commented on these claims but has vowed to retaliate if Israeli troops push deeper into Lebanese territory.
In southern Lebanon, residents in several villages near the Israeli border have been ordered to evacuate by the Israeli military. Over 600 people have sought refuge in a monastery, fearing that their homes could be targeted next. Ain Ebl, one of the villages warned by Israel, is just one of many where civilians are being displaced as the conflict drags on.
Hezbollah, while enduring the loss of its leader and facing intensified Israeli airstrikes, remains defiant. On Tuesday, the group launched a long-range missile into Israeli territory, striking military targets in the suburbs of Tel Aviv. Israel’s military responded with further airstrikes as the situation continues to escalate.
As the region braces for further violence, the international community watches with growing concern. Efforts to de-escalate the conflict have so far failed, and with Iran’s potential involvement looming, the Middle East may be on the cusp of a wider war with far-reaching consequences.