Hezbollah strikes Israeli command center in 6th month of war

Hezbollah launched an assault on a command center in northern Israel, intensifying the ongoing conflict into its sixth month. This attack targeted a newly established command center in Liman, while Israeli forces retaliated with artillery fire against Aita al-Shaab and the Yaroun reserve in southern Lebanon. Subsequently, Hezbollah directed its offensive towards an artillery position in al-Zaoura, located within the occupied Golan Heights.

This escalation follows a series of confrontations on Wednesday, including a strike utilizing a suicide drone. These developments occurred as Hezbollah conducted a memorial service in southern Lebanon for two of its fighters and a woman, all from the same family, who were casualties of an Israeli strike the previous day. The attack targeted their residence in Houla, a locale that has experienced significant hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces since the onset of the Gaza war.

The strike claimed the lives of Hassan Hussein and his son, initially identified as civilians but later acknowledged by Hezbollah as combatants. During the service, their coffins, along with that of Hassan’s wife Ruwaida Mustafa, also a casualty in the attack, were adorned with Hezbollah flags.

Hezbollah has consistently targeted Israeli positions following the October 7 attack by Hamas that initiated the war with Israel. In retaliation, Israeli military efforts have focused on Hezbollah outposts and aimed to eliminate key figures within the organization.

Amid these tensions, Ali Fayyad, a Lebanese parliamentarian representing Hezbollah, issued warnings against Israel, emphasizing the group’s readiness to employ all necessary means in defense. Hezbollah’s response to the Israeli aggression included targeting civilian areas in northern Israel and deploying an explosive drone against an Israeli military site, attributing these actions to provocations by Israeli forces.

Efforts by U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein to mediate the conflict included visits to Lebanon and Israel, aiming to negotiate an end to the cross-border skirmishes. Despite these diplomatic attempts, Hezbollah has vowed to maintain its offensive until a ceasefire is established in the conflict with Hamas.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has made clear that any ceasefire in Gaza would not deter Israel’s objective to expel Hezbollah from southern Lebanon, whether through military action or diplomatic means. The ongoing border disputes since October have resulted in significant casualties on both sides, with the majority being Hezbollah fighters and Lebanese civilians, alongside Israeli military and civilian fatalities.