The time for discussing the Middle East being on the verge of a major conflict has passed. Following Israel’s massive assault on what it claimed was a Hezbollah command center in Beirut, it feels as though the region has plunged into that very conflict.
Eyewitnesses in Beirut described a series of explosions of immense scale. A contact of mine in the city mentioned that it was the most intense bombing she had ever heard, even compared to Lebanon’s previous wars.
On Saturday, the Israeli military announced the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, along with several top commanders, during the strike. Hezbollah has yet to issue any statement.
The Israeli air force’s bombing campaign did not end there. The Israeli military confirmed that its strikes on Hezbollah positions would continue.
Earlier in the day, there had been faint hope that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might consider a 21-day ceasefire proposal. The initiative, backed by the US and France, had the support of Israel’s key Western allies.
However, in a bold and defiant address to the UN General Assembly in New York, Netanyahu made no mention of peace talks.
He declared that Israel was left with no option but to fight enemies that sought its destruction. Hezbollah would be defeated, he vowed, and Israel would achieve total victory over Hamas in Gaza, ensuring the safe return of its hostages.
Far from being victims, a term sometimes invoked in Israel when recalling the Nazi Holocaust, Netanyahu insisted that Israel was prevailing.
The massive strike in Beirut that took place just as he concluded his speech was an unmistakable indication that a ceasefire in Lebanon was not part of Israel’s plans.
It seemed highly plausible that the timing of the assault aligned with Mr. Netanyahu’s earlier warnings that Israel could and would target its adversaries, no matter where they were.
The Pentagon, representing the US Department of Defense, stated that it received no prior notice from Israel about the operation.
A photograph released by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office depicted Netanyahu surrounded by communication devices, seemingly in his New York City hotel. The caption noted that this was the moment he gave the order for the attack.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken defended the strategy he had been shaping for months, insisting that negotiations were still possible. However, that claim now appears increasingly unconvincing.
The U.S. has limited options to influence the situation. By law, they are prohibited from engaging directly with Hezbollah and Hamas, both designated as foreign terrorist organizations. With the U.S. elections approaching, Washington is even less inclined to exert pressure on Israel than it has been over the past year.
After the Hamas attacks last October, key figures in the Israeli government and military pushed for a strike on Hezbollah, believing they could deliver a significant blow to their foes in Lebanon. The Americans urged restraint, arguing that the regional instability such an attack might trigger outweighed any short-term security gain for Israel.
Over the past year, however, Netanyahu has repeatedly disregarded President Joe Biden’s preferences regarding Israel’s military actions. Even though the U.S. supplied the planes and bombs used in the Beirut strike, President Biden and his administration found themselves largely sidelined.
