Gaza war could spiral to Lebanon

Conflict between Israel and Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah is looming and plans are being readied for an invasion if diplomacy doesn’t work – so far the talking has achieved little
 

Attacks: Hezbollah Israel

Oct 7, 2023-Jul 2024: There have been over 4,400 rocket, missile, and other attacks by Israel and Hezbollah combined.
More than 150,000 civilians on both sides of Israel-Lebanon border have been displaced

Haifa: Main hospital’s subterranean car park has been converted into 20,200-square metre hospital with 1,200 beds and blood bank. Facility is safe from missile, chemical, and cyber attacks

Beirut
LEBANON
Sidon
Litani River
Tyre
Nahariya 
ISRAEL
Beqaa Valley 
SYRIA
Damascus 
Shebaa Farms
Ghajar
Golan Heights (Israeli-occupied)
40km 25 miles
   

2000: Hezbollah forces Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) to withdraw from Lebanon

2006: Conflict flares into all-out war, leaving over 100 Israelis and around 500 Hezbollah fighters dead.
UN Security Council Resolution 1701 ends 34-day war – Hezbollah is to stay north of Litani River

2006-22: Hezbollah stockpiles over 120,000 stand-off weapons, plus Iranian and Russian air defence systems. Israel no longer has unimpeded air superiority over southern Lebanon

Oct 7, 2023: Gaza-based Hamas’ attacks dramatically increase Israeli insecurity. Clashes between Hezbollah and IDF displace 60,000 civilians from northern Israel

Feb 2024: IDF attacks Hezbollah air defence sites in Beqaa Valley

Mar onwards: IDF increases strikes on Hezbollah forces and its leaders
  
Jul 3: Israel kills senior commander Muhammad Naama Nasser (left) near Tyre. Hezbollah fires over 200 rockets at IDF bases in Israel
    
Jul 10: U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein (right) seeks deal to allow both sides to claim victory by mutual retreat from Lebanon’s border. Hezbollah likely to seek Israeli evacuation of Shebaa Farms and Ghajar village
    

Sources: Al Monitor, Center for Strategic & International Studies, Naharnet, Reuters
Pictures: Alma Research and Education Center, Getty Images 
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