- Mossad vows Hamas accountability
- Hezbollah threatens retaliation
- Tensions rise after Arouri’s assassination
Wednesday saw the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence service declare that the organization would apprehend, without exception, any Hamas member implicated in the attack on Israel on October 7, regardless of their location. A day after the deputy leader of the Palestinian militant organization was slain in Beirut in an alleged Israeli strike, he made this commitment.
Israel has declined to comment on allegations that it was responsible for the slaying, but David Barnea’s statements appeared to be the most compelling evidence to date that the country was the assailant. He drew a parallel between the circumstances surrounding the Munich Olympics in 1972 and the subsequent killings of Israeli athletes, wherein Mossad agents apprehended and eliminated Palestinian militants.
Israel was on high alert on Wednesday for an escalation with the potent Hezbollah militia in Lebanon, following the death of Saleh Arouri, the highest-ranking Hamas member to be killed since the Gaza conflict began almost three months ago, in an airstrike in the capital of Lebanon.
The attack on Hezbollah’s base in southern Beirut might turn the Lebanon border conflict into a full-scale war.
Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, vowed vengeance in a speech on Wednesday evening, reiterating the organization’s stance that “this perilous crime” involving the murder of Arouri will not “escape retaliation or punishment.” The audience, however, was left to speculate as to when and in what guise.
Hezbollah’s Strategic Readiness and Predictions
Nasrallah stated that Hezbollah’s strategic calculations in the conflict to date had been circumspect, striking a balance between “the need to support Gaza and the consideration of Lebanese national interests.” However, should the Israelis initiate hostilities against Lebanon, the organization stands prepared for a “unbounded struggle.”
He predicted, “They will come to regret their decision.” “The expense will be extremely, extremely, extremely high.”
The October 7 attack shocked Israelis, but Arouri’s assassination strengthened morale. This occurred despite the militants’ continued resistance in Gaza and the holding of dozens of captives.
Barnea stated that the Mossad is “committed to settling accounts with the murderers who raided the Gaza envelope,” alluding to the region by Hamas that was located in southern Israel. “Directly or indirectly,” he swore to pursue all parties involved, “including planners and envoys.”
“As was the case following the Munich massacre, it will take time, but we will seize them wherever they may be,” he continued. Barnea spoke at the burial of former Mossad director Zvi Zamir, 98.
Zamir assumed leadership of the intelligence agency during the Munich incident, a tragedy in which eleven members of the Israeli Olympic delegation were murdered by Palestinian militants. Subsequently, members of the Black September militant organization responsible for the attack were eliminated by Israel.
In pursuit of HEZBOLLAH
Since the Gaza conflict began, Hezbollah and the Israeli military have exchanged gunfire nearly daily over the border. However, Nasrallah has exhibited a reluctance to escalate the situation further, possibly out of concern that a monthlong conflict in 2006 could be repeated, during which Israel bombarded Beirut and southern Lebanon with heavy bombings.
Concurrently, pressure is placed on Hezbollah to demonstrate its support for its ally Hamas.
As evidenced by Nasrallah’s remarks regarding balancing interests, the group feared that the Lebanese would hold it accountable should its confrontations with Israel escalate into a full-scale war that wreaks havoc comparable to the 2006 war. He promised to discuss retaliation for Arouri’s murder in a Friday speech.
However, he stated that it would be in the national interest to retaliate if Israel attacked Lebanon. “War does not terrify us,” he declared. “Should the adversary contemplate initiating hostilities against Lebanon, we shall respond with unrestricted and limitless resistance.”
Hezbollah possesses an extensive arsenal comprising numerous varieties of drones and tens of thousands of projectiles and missiles. The US has sent two aircraft carriers and more military resources to prevent a worsening of the crisis. This week, State Secretary Antony Blinken was anticipated to visit the region.
Escalating Tensions: Hezbollah’s Perspective
Nasrallah commended both Arouri and the attack that occurred on October 7th, stating that it “rekindled attention to the Palestinian cause at a time when it had been nearly forgotten.” The individual asserted that Israel has thus far been unable to achieve any of its goals in the Gaza conflict. Additionally, they stated that Israel was experiencing reputational harm on an international level.
Wednesday, Israeli military chief of staff Lieutenant Colonel Herzi Halevi visited the northern border of Israel with Lebanon, where he stated, “We have been placed on high readiness in the north.”
Obviously, Hamas authorities anticipate that Hezbollah will support them.
The Associated Press interviewed Hamas political official Osama Hamdan on Saturday, three days prior to Arouri’s murder, to determine whether the organization was concerned about the possibility that Israel would assassinate its officials in Lebanon. Hamdan was based in Beirut.
Hamdan foretold that Hezbollah would not tolerate such behaviour and that a full-scale conflict would ensue.
“Therefore, what motivated Israel to take that action?” “Does it desire conflict in Lebanon?” He inquired. “War is a possibility if Israel behaves improperly and aggressively towards Lebanon,” but “Israel could avoid war by adopting a defensive stance and refraining from aggressive actions.”
On Wednesday, Hezbollah reported that nine of its fighters were slain in Israeli strikes in Lebanon. This was one of the greatest daily fatality tolls in nearly three months of warfare and suggested an intensification.
Hezbollah’s Unusual Tactics Revealed
Additionally, Hezbollah disclosed that its fighters had engaged in eleven assaults against Israeli border posts. Four of them were executed with heavy warhead Burkan rockets, a rare weapon for the organisation in the battle. The statement made no explicit connection between the conflagration and Arouri’s demise.
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Under Hamas’ chief political commander, Ismail Haniyeh, Arouri handled operations in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. A crucial liaison with Hezbollah as well, he was.
A U.S. official confirmed that Israel performed Arouri’s death strike without White House notification. The official was not authorised to discuss the operation; therefore, they agreed to speak under the condition of anonymity.
It would be the first time since the war that Israel has launched an offensive against Hamas leaders. The majority of whom reside in exile throughout the region, in another country.
The remarks made by the Mossad chief implied that additional Hamas figures would be assassinated. Echoing the vows made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to execute Hamas leaders wherever they may be. On October 7, Hamas attacked southern Israel from Gaza, killing 1,200 and capturing 240.
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