Over the past year, there have been numerous moments of heightened tension, but none as perilous as this.In the past seven days, Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah was assassinated, Israel has commenced a ground offensive in Lebanon, and Iran has launched close to 200 ballistic missiles at Israeli targets.Western and regional powers, with the US at the forefront, have sought to calm the situation.
The UN Security Council has demanded an “immediate cessation” of hostilities, while the G7, including the US, UK, and Germany, has urged “restraint.”Despite these efforts, de-escalation has remained elusive, and the Middle East is now on the verge of full-scale conflict.Here’s a breakdown of the week’s events.
The past year has seen numerous dangerous moments, but none as critical as this.
In the last seven days, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was assassinated, Israel launched a ground invasion of Lebanon, and Iran fired nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israeli targets.
Western and regional powers, led by the US, have called for de-escalation. The UN Security Council demanded an “immediate end” to hostilities, and the G7, including the US, UK, and Germany, urged “restraint.”
However, these efforts have so far failed, and the Middle East is now closer than ever to all-out war.
Here’s a breakdown of the week’s key events:
Friday evening: Nasrallah is assassinated.
On 27 September, a series of explosions rocked southern Beirut, targeting an underground bunker. The attack killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who had long been a key Israeli target. His assassination marked the culmination of a week of intense Israeli airstrikes that left over 500 dead.
Nasrallah’s death dashed hopes for de-escalation, which had seemed possible earlier when a 21-day ceasefire proposal was being discussed at the UN General Assembly.
Monday night: Israel invades Lebanon.
Three days later, Israeli ground forces crossed into Lebanon, initiating an invasion aimed at crippling Hezbollah’s rocket-launching capabilities. The operation, described by the IDF as “limited and targeted,” has displaced over 1.2 million people, and at least 8 Israeli soldiers have been killed.
Now, Israeli forces find themselves fighting on two fronts—Gaza and Lebanon—a situation not seen in decades. Israel’s determination to weaken Hezbollah is clear, despite framing the operation as limited.
Israel’s broader goal appears to be cutting Hezbollah down in size, continuing the ambitions fueled by the ongoing Gaza conflict.
