Israel early yesterday preempted Iran-surrogate Hizbollah’s planned reprisal for the Jewish
state’s 30 July fatal missile strike against its military commander, Fuad Shukr in Beirut.
Some 100 Israeli aircraft stuck sites in 40 areas of southern Lebanon, rendering mostly
ineffective a planned 0500 launch of ballistic missiles, rockets and drones against military and
civilian targets in northern and central Israel, including the headquarters of military and civilian
intelligence agencies near Tel Aviv.
Israel, which deployed its formidable air defenses, suffered modest property damage and a few
casualties. It was obliged to suspend flights at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport for two
hours, causing massive delays. Officials claimed that no military targets were hit.
Hizbollah claimed the onslaught despite its apparent lack of success, saying that it had
unleashed 320 projectiles and would strike again to avenge Skukr. Its leader, Sheikh Hassan
Nasrullah claimed Israel had underestimated the damage inflicted.
By mid-morning yesterday, both sides signaled that the round of fighting was over. They are
expected to return to the limited but sustained cross-border warfare that has plagued northern
Israel and southern Lebanon since Hamas struck Israel on 7 October.
Whether Hizbollah attempts another major strike at Israel’s core remains to be seen.
Israel, under pressure to return some 60,000 evacuees to northern communities, repeatedly has
threatened a ground invasion of southern Lebanon, which would trigger all-out war.
But it appears to be hoping that a French-led diplomatic initiative will render that unnecessary.
Tens of thousands of Lebanese civilians also have fled the border region.
Hizbollah has signaled that it would be open to a diplomatic solution once a ceasefire is
achieved in Gaza. For the time being, that goal remains elusive.
Neither side appears interested at present in all-out war.
Personnel in Israel should remain south of Haifa and north of Ashdod and stay close to bomb
shelters.
No travel whatsoever should be undertaken to Lebanon.
