Flagrant violation In a formal communication addressed to the President of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, has urgently called for the UNSC to condemn the actions of Hezbollah and to take decisive steps to enforce Resolution 1701. This resolution, originally adopted in 2006, mandates the disarmament of Hezbollah and other armed groups operating in southern Lebanon.
On the same day, the Israel Air Force (IAF) carried out a preemptive strike in southern Lebanon. This operation targeted numerous rocket launchers poised to attack Israel at 5:00 am. In response, Hezbollah retaliated with a significant salvo of rockets and drones aimed at Israeli territory. While the majority of these projectiles were intercepted by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the escalation has exacerbated tensions.
In his letter, Danon attributed the current security crisis to both the State of Lebanon and the Hezbollah militant organization, which he claims operates under Iranian direction. He noted that since the attack on October 7, Hezbollah has launched over 7,500 rockets and numerous explosive unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) into Israel. These attacks have inflicted substantial damage and prompted the evacuation of over 60,000 residents from northern Israel.
Danon characterized these actions as part of a broader strategy by the Iranian axis to annihilate Israel through coordinated assaults from multiple fronts. He underscored that the recent Hezbollah attack, intended for early morning, highlights the presence of illegal weapons in southern Lebanon—an explicit violation of UNSCR 1701. This situation underscores the urgent need for the demilitarization of the region south of the Litani River and the disarmament of Hezbollah and other armed factions.
While affirming Israel’s right to take all necessary and lawful measures to safeguard its citizens, Danon also made it clear that Israel does not seek a full-scale war. Instead, he urged the UNSC to strongly denounce Hezbollah’s ongoing hostilities and its support from Iran, which he believes destabilizes the region.
In conclusion, Danon called for the UNSC to address these issues as it considers the renewal of UNIFIL’s mandate. He urged that UNIFIL be empowered to rigorously enforce Resolution 1701, ensuring the disarmament of Hezbollah forces and other armed groups operating in southern Lebanon.
Flagrant violation : After Attacks, Israel and Hezbollah Swiftly Move to Talk of Containment
For weeks, Israelis have anxiously awaited a major retaliatory strike from Hezbollah in response to Israel’s killing of a senior commander, Fuad Shukr, in Beirut last month. The fear was that such an attack could escalate into a full-blown regional conflict.
On Sunday, that feared confrontation appeared to be defused almost as soon as it began. As dawn broke, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) conducted preemptive strikes against what it claimed were thousands of Hezbollah rocket launchers positioned in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah quickly retaliated with a barrage of rockets and drones aimed at northern Israel. Despite the intense exchange, the situation did not spiral out of control as many had feared.
By mid-morning, both sides were framing the situation in terms of containment. Hezbollah announced it had completed the “first stage” of its revenge attack and seemed to signal a pause in hostilities. In a speech later that evening, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah indicated that the group had targeted an Israeli intelligence base near Tel Aviv. He suggested that if this attack was deemed effective, Hezbollah might cease further actions for now; if not, they reserved the right to escalate later.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant communicated with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III to discuss strategies for preventing further escalation in the region. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remarked that the day’s events were “not the end of the story,” but life in Israel began to return to normal by the afternoon.
Analysts note that while the immediate threat appeared to have been managed, tensions remain high. Ehud Yaari of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy pointed out that both sides have signaled that this could be just the beginning of a more prolonged conflict. Hezbollah has tens of thousands of rockets and some advanced missiles, and Iran, its primary patron, still has unresolved grievances with Israel, including the recent assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, a key Hamas leader.
In the wake of the conflict, the focus has also shifted to ongoing negotiations in Cairo aimed at securing a ceasefire and addressing the Gaza conflict, with U.S., Qatari, and Egyptian officials spearheading the efforts. The broader regional dynamics, including the persistent exchanges between Hezbollah and Israel, add complexity to these diplomatic efforts.
Hezbollah and Israel had already been engaged in intermittent clashes over recent months, with Hezbollah supporting Hamas after Israel’s military operations in Gaza last October. This cycle of tit-for-tat exchanges has intensified, leading many experts to describe it as a war of attrition. An all-out war between the two would be catastrophic, potentially paralyzing large parts of Israel and exacerbating Lebanon’s already severe political and economic crises.
As of Sunday, Israeli forces claimed to have destroyed a significant number of Hezbollah’s short-range rockets and intercepted a series of drones targeting strategic locations within Israel. Despite these developments, both sides are bracing for potential further escalation, keeping the region on edge.
Tens of thousands of residents from towns and villages straddling the border between Israel and Lebanon have faced displacement for nearly ten months. The ongoing conflict has forced these communities to leave their homes, and despite recent actions by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu aimed at improving the situation and facilitating the return of residents, there is no set date for their repatriation.
Isabel Kershner, a seasoned journalist with The New York Times, has been covering Israeli and Palestinian affairs for decades, providing insightful reporting on the complex dynamics of the region.
In Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, such as Bourj al-Barajne, murals of Hamas figures like Qassam Brigades spokesperson Abu Ubaida are commonplace, symbolizing the persistent sense of hope among some Palestinians despite dire circumstances.
In Israel, the families of hostages killed during the conflict have expressed their frustrations and grief, particularly in poignant ceremonies like the one for Abraham Munder, where his widow, Ruti Munder, and daughter, Keren, publicly mourned his loss.
Amid these tensions, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has been actively involved in mediating efforts to address the ongoing conflict in Gaza. He has described the proposed cease-fire deal as potentially the last and best chance to halt the fighting and secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.