Preface: The Middle East is once again in flames of war
In recent days, the situation in the Middle East has heated up suddenly. A large-scale military conflict broke out between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah armed organization. The two sides launched fierce attacks on each other in the border area. At the same time, the United States also sent an aircraft carrier battle group to approach the waters near Israel in an attempt to prevent the situation from further deteriorating. Will this conflict lead to a full-scale war? How will the various forces respond? This article will analyze the latest developments in the current situation in the Middle East for you in detail.
Israel launches preemptive attack, Hezbollah retaliates with rockets
In the early morning of August 25, the Israeli military announced a "preemptive" airstrike against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. The Israeli military said the operation was aimed at combating Hezbollah's preparations for a "large-scale attack" on northern Israel.
An IDF spokesman said that the IDF deployed about 100 warplanes to destroy thousands of Hezbollah rocket launchers. Most of these rocket launchers were aimed at northern Israel, while some were aimed at central areas. The IDF also struck more than 40 Hezbollah launch sites.
Hezbollah claimed that it had launched more than 320 rockets and a large number of drones into Israel in retaliation for Israel's assassination of its senior commander Fuad Shukr last month. Hezbollah stated that the attack targeted 11 Israeli military bases and camps, and "the first phase has been successfully completed."
The large-scale exchange of fire between the two sides has attracted great attention from the international community. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urgently convened a security cabinet meeting to discuss the situation. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced that Israel will enter a 48-hour national state of emergency starting at 6 a.m. on the 25th.
US aircraft carrier battle group approaches the Middle East, showing military shock
To prevent the situation in the Middle East from further deteriorating, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered earlier this month to send more fighter jets and missile destroyers to the region.
Currently, the two US aircraft carriers, the USS Roosevelt and the USS Lincoln, and their escort fleet have arrived in the waters near the Gulf of Oman. Austin also made a rare public announcement to dispatch the attack nuclear submarine USS Georgia to the region. This submarine can launch cruise missiles and carry special forces SEALs.
The US Department of Defense said that these military deployments are to respond to the threats posed by Iran and its proxies in Gaza, Lebanon and Yemen to Israel. The US hopes that this military shock will prevent Iran and its allies from launching more violent attacks on Israel.
U.S. Defense Secretary Austin spoke by phone with Israeli Defense Minister Galant, reaffirming the U.S.'s "unwavering commitment" to Israel's defense. Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said the U.S. is ready to support Israel's defense efforts and that this position is "very clear."
Lebanon's Hezbollah: Weapons arsenal comparable to national army
Despite Israel's military prowess, analysts warn that Hezbollah's arsenal should not be underestimated. The Iran-backed group is considered the world's best-armed non-state group, with an arsenal that is more advanced and destructive than Hamas's.
Hezbollah has missiles with a range of up to 500 kilometers, which is enough to strike all of Israel. However, Israel's "Iron Dome" air defense system can effectively intercept Hezbollah's missile attacks. Hezbollah also has a variety of rockets, missiles and drones that can pose a serious threat to Israel.
What is more noteworthy is that Hezbollah maintains close cooperation with transnational armed forces led by Iran, including organizations in Yemen, Syria, Gaza and Iraq. These organizations have recently launched frequent attacks on Israel and its allies, trying to position themselves as a "support front" for the Palestinians in Gaza.
Although Hezbollah has a powerful arsenal, analysts believe that the organization also understands that if it provokes Israel to launch a full-scale counterattack, it may suffer heavy losses and cause a devastating blow to the already fragile Lebanon. Therefore, Hezbollah has always adopted an asymmetric war strategy in its confrontation with Israel, trying to balance military actions and political influence.
Israeli airport was temporarily closed, people fled
Due to the exchange of fire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport was temporarily closed on the morning of the 25th, and all flights were canceled or diverted. A large number of passengers trying to escape flooded the airport, and the scene was chaotic.
The Israeli Civil Aviation Authority said that considering the safety of passengers, flights departing from Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport were suspended, and planes that were originally scheduled to land at the airport were directed to other airports. It was not until 7 a.m. local time that the airport finally resumed normal operations.
However, there were reports of rocket and drone attacks in northern Israel. Medical staff said a woman was injured in the northern coastal city of Acre and was taken to hospital for treatment.
In addition, Tel Aviv University announced the cancellation of exams, and all activities at the Israel Institute of Technology and Haifa University were also cancelled. These measures reflect the tense atmosphere in Israel.
Egypt mediation deadlocked, ceasefire talks progressing slowly
As Israel and Hezbollah exchanged fire, Egypt was preparing to host a new round of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. However, the ceasefire negotiations seemed to have reached an impasse.
Israeli military radio reported that Israeli intelligence chief David Barnea will lead a delegation to Cairo to participate in ceasefire negotiations. However, Hamas said they will only meet with senior Egyptian officials to listen to the latest progress of the negotiations and will not directly participate in the discussions.
The United States, Egypt and Qatar have been trying to mediate an end to Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza over the past few months, but progress has been slow and the two sides remain far apart.
Conclusion: The situation in the Middle East is about to turn stormy
Sami Nader, director of the Levant Strategic Affairs Institute, believes that Israel's offensive could drag the entire region into a full-scale war. He said that the military action between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon has significantly escalated in both scope and intensity.
However, Nader also pointed out that both sides are still trying to avoid a full-scale war. Israel is exhausted by the Gaza War, and Lebanon does not want a repeat of the 2006 war because Lebanon is in a serious economic crisis.
Currently, the international community is closely following the development of the situation. The United Nations and many governments have called on all parties to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation of the situation. However, as the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah continues to escalate, the situation in the Middle East remains uncertain. Developments in the next few days will determine whether this conflict will evolve into a larger-scale regional war.
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