ISRAELI STRIKE Downs Elite Hezbollah Commander: A Fearful Prelude to Another Mideast War?
— An Israeli airstrike claimed the life of an elite Hezbollah commander, Wissam al-Tawil, in southern Lebanon on Monday. This event marks the latest in a string of escalating border strikes, stirring concerns of a potential new Mideast conflict.
The demise of al-Tawil signifies the most impactful blow to Hezbollah since the onset of war triggered by Hamas’ incursion into southern Israel on October 7. The ongoing conflict has led to increased skirmishes between Israel and Hezbollah, especially following an Israeli strike last week that eliminated a senior Hamas leader in Beirut.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is once again visiting the region this week, seemingly with intentions to curb further escalation. However, despite Israel’s assertion that it has mostly wrapped up major operations in northern Gaza, fighting continues as attention shifts towards central regions and Khan Younis.
Israeli authorities forecast ongoing strife as they strive to dismantle Hamas and liberate hostages seized during the October 7 attack. The offensive has already resulted in over 23,000 Palestinian deaths and displacement for nearly 85% of Gaza’s population. It has also caused widespread destruction across Gaza Strip and threatens starvation for a quarter of its residents.