Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group, held a large military parade on Sunday at its southern border, showcasing its military might against its long-time enemy Israel. The intention was to highlight the group’s preparedness and capability to defend Lebanon against any possible Israeli attack, following recent rockets being launched to Israel from Lebanon.
The exercise took place in the area of Meiss Ej-Jebel in the Beqa’a Valley, near the Syrian border. The display included the demonstrating of live fire, anti-tank missiles, and soldiers advancing through a mock charred and deserted town.
The Israeli military has not commented on the Hezbollah exercise. Israel has a clear policy of preemption against existential threats, and it is expected that Israel will take out Iran’s nuclear facilities if it perceives an immediate threat. Israel will also need to confront Hezbollah and Hamas before Iran is taken on.
Iran has a long-standing intention to develop weapons of mass destruction to destroy Israel. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated in 2001 that the mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran was to erase Israel from the region’s map. Despite negotiations in 2021 between Iran and the US to ease sanctions in return for Iran stopping its weapons of mass destruction program, Iran has continued to signal its intention to annihilate Israel.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has detected near-weapons-grade uranium in Iran, and Rafael Mariano Grossi, the UN nuclear official, has warned that Iran has enough enriched nuclear fissile material to build “several” nuclear warheads.
The leader of the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, warned that a war with Iran would result in “destruction” for both parties. Nasrallah also suggested that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates should halt their war against Yemen rather than invest in expensive air defense systems in an attempt to prevent the types of attacks on Saudi oil installations that were carried out in September.
Hezbollah has been supporting Syria’s President, Bashar al-Assad, in his fight against opposition groups in Syria. The group is paying a heavy toll in this fight and needs new troops as many are as young as 15 years old and receive a salary of between $500 and $2,000 per month. Hezbollah needs to fight in Syria to prevent the spillover of the conflict in Lebanon. Many supporters accept the rationale behind Hezbollah’s intervention in Syria, but they are starting to have doubts about the long duration of the conflict and the high casualty toll among the Hezbollah ranks.
The recent display of military strength by Hezbollah against Israel is significant, given the long-standing tension between the two countries. While both countries have avoided a major confrontation recently, the possibility of renewed conflict cannot be ruled out.
In conclusion, the tensions in the Middle East continue to mount with Iran, Hezbollah, and Israel each flexing their muscles in an attempt to show strength and resolve. The situation in Syria is already destabilizing the entire region, and further conflict may lead to an even bigger crisis. It is crucial that diplomatic efforts are initiated to prevent any military confrontation.
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