The Lebanon border and Hezbollah’s war footing
Yesterday’s clash could have escalated if Israel had not shown great restraint. The Israelis likely knew that the attack it endured was designed to drag its military into an unplanned response against Lebanon, amidst heightened tension Iran and the United States. Indeed, Israel should be acknowledged as having prevented a wider conflagration.
Hezbollah, surprisingly, also demonstrated some restraint yesterday. The Iranian proxy didn’t rush to shell the northern Israel after the clash. However, Hezbollah’s restraint does not reflect a desire for peace. This smaller attack was choreographed. It was likely structured by Hezbollah’s chief Hassan Nasrallah’s war room. This smaller skirmish is likely a prelude to the big one. Indeed, it sets a predicate for future confrontations.