The Israel-Lebanon Conflict
The Middle East has rarely been a stranger to conflict. Religious extremism and political resistance have sparked war in the region time and time again for the past hundred years. But where there is pain, there is also love. The Middle East is a rich region with diverse cultures, histories, religions, and peoples. The ecosystem ranges from rolling sand dunes, to thick, green forests, to bright blue seas, and snow-covered mountains. Respect, honor, and loyalty are strong values embedded in Middle Eastern culture – from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, the people of these countries are well known for being socially-oriented and hospitable. Education is also very important; in Iran, about half of the studied programmers and engineers are women, and in Gaza, Palestine, literacy rates are among the highest in the world. But over the past year, conflict and war have boiled uncontrollably, and millions of people have been subjected to the grief and terror of violence. Within the past week, Israel and Lebanon (bordering countries in the Levant region) have come face to face on the battlefield. But their conflicting history goes far beyond the tragedies of these past months, and many predict that their fight will lead thousands to their deaths.
In 1982, the Hezbollahan—an Iranian-backed political party and armed group in Lebanon—was formed in opposition to Israel’s disastrous invasion and occupation of Southern Lebanon, which killed tens of thousands of Lebanese during the civil war in 1975 to 1990. In 2000, after guerilla warfare and requirements from the United Nations, Israel pulled out of Lebanon. But in 2006, in an attempt to negotiate the release of Lebanese prisoners held by Israel, Hezbollah killed eight Israeli soldiers and captured two others. In response, a short war began, in which 160 Israelis and 1,000 Lebanese died.
Lebanon, coined “The Pearl of the Middle East,” is a country with a population of 5.5 million people, contains a vast range of Mediterranean cultures, and has an expansive ecosystem, from beaches to mountains, and forests to deserts. It is an undeniably beautiful region, but sadly, familiar with warfare.
Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging fire at their borders since October 8, 2023, a day after the Israel-Hamas war began when Hamas (the militant Palestinian nationalist and Islamist political organization in occupied Gaza, Palestine) attacked Israel and killed 1,195 people, including 815 Israeli citizens. In the past year, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed over 40,000 Palestinians – most of those deaths being women and children. Hezbollah declared its support for Hamas following the October 7th attacks, which sparked great tension between Lebanon and Israel – but on September 27, 2024, the fight between Israel and Hezbollah escalated after Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s leader, was assassinated in Beirut, Lebanon, during an Israeli strike. Prior to that, Israel crippled Hezbollah’s communication system by blowing up their pagers and walkie talkies with explosive devices concealed in the batteries. Thirty-seven people, including children, were killed, and 3,000 were injured.
Following Nasrallah’s death, Southern Lebanon continues to endure a bombardment of munitions as Israel expands its operations into the country. Within the span of seven days, one million Lebanese (nearly a fifth of the country’s population) have been displaced, 2,000 killed, and ten of thousands more injured. In close range combat, eight Israeli soldiers have been killed by Hezbollah.
Israel has already begun their ground operations, which they state will be “limited” with the only goal being to “[eliminate] terrorists and [dismantle] terrorist infrastructure through precision-guided munitions and close-range engagements”. About 10,000 troops have been sent to the border, and 50 Lebanese villages in the close regions have been told to evacuate. On October 1, 2024, Iran sent 180 missiles into Tel Aviv, Israel, in addition to Hezbollah’s strikes. All of the bombs were intercepted by Israel’s defense system, the Iron Dome.
Many people worry about what the invasion of Lebanon could mean for the rest of the Middle East. Hezbollah is considered to be the strongest militia group in the region, with a hauntingly powerful weapons arsenal; 120,000 missiles alone. Some fear the greater fight between Israel and Hezbollah will lead to a re-occupation of Southern Lebanon – others are more focused on Iran, and the rapid advancement of its nuclear powers, especially with the simmering topic of American soldiers being deployed into the Middle East.
For many, these wars have meant displacement and starvation. For others, it meant the loss of loved ones and religious persecution. What cannot be denied – as this conflict has proven – is the extent to which humans will go in order to defend and protect what they love. In war, absolutely no one wins.
Sources:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clylzx1xz2yo
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9vp7dg3ml1o
https://www.vox.com/israel/375125/lebanon-hezbollah-israel-iran-invasion-gaza
