Israel is pushing for Hezbollah to withdraw its forces from north of the Litani River in Lebanon as part of a diplomatic settlement. This demand aligns with a UN Security Council resolution that ended a 2006 war between the two sides. However, both Israel and Hezbollah have been accused of violating the resolution.
Hezbollah seems reluctant to pull back its forces from the border, prompting French mediators to suggest a smaller buffer zone and an increase in Lebanese army presence in the area. The lack of agreement has led to a limited escalation, with Hezbollah launching rockets and Israel responding with strikes deeper into Lebanon.
The situation escalated further when Israeli forces killed a senior Hezbollah commander, leading to heavy rocket barrages from Hezbollah into Israel. Subsequent rocket launches by Hezbollah caused minimal damage in Israel, with the Israeli military responding with artillery fire.
Hezbollah’s attacks have resulted in injuries in Israel, including to soldiers. The rockets, interceptors, and shrapnel have also sparked wildfires in Israel. The conflict remains tense, with the risk of a full-scale war looming if miscalculations occur.
Source: www.nytimes.com