According to Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari, the Hezbollah group's plan called for it to infiltrate Israel with its fighters, take control of municipalities in the Galilee, kill Israeli civilians and take hostages. Two Hezbollah commanders who were part of these plans were killed in targeted Israeli strikes.
Hamas, which is allied with the pro-Iranian group Hezbollah, attacked southern Israel on October 7 last year, sparking the Gaza war. More than 1,200 people were killed in the major Hamas assault and 251 others were taken hostage in the Gaza Strip. According to Hamas figures, which cannot be independently verified, over 41,000 people were killed in the course of the Israeli offensive in response to the attack.
Hazard from a larger explosion
Since October 8, 2023, northern Israel has also been under constant attack by Hezbollah. Israel responds to the attacks with counter-attacks in Lebanon. Since then, tens of thousands of people on both sides of the border have been forced to flee their homelands.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib sees the danger of further escalation. He told the UN Security Council in New York: “Either this council will force Israel to stop its aggression, or we will be silent witnesses to the great explosion that looms on the horizon today.“