Seth J. Frantzman
The Israel Defense Forces are increasingly focused on the prospect of a large conflict developing with Hezbollah in northern Israel. The chances for a major war increased on September 17 when thousands of pagers used by Hezbollah members exploded in Lebanon, killing more than two dozen people and wounding thousands. This was an unprecedented toll for Hezbollah to suffer in one day. The group has vowed to retaliate in a way that Israel cannot “imagine.”
Israel has deployed brigades and divisions in northern Israel in strength. Throughout the war in Gaza, which began with the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, the IDF has focused on the possibility that a significant conflict will develop with Hezbollah. In fact, when Hamas attacked on October 7, many assumed it was only the opening move of a larger attack by Hezbollah and Iranian-backed proxies in Yemen, Syria, and Iraq. For this reason, Israel has been on alert in the north for eleven months. One outcome of that alert was the decision in October 2023 to evacuate more than 60,000 Israelis from their homes. The evacuation took place along the line of Israeli communities that are on the Lebanese border.
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