Israeli army chief threatens further action against Hezbollah in Beirut

Israeli army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi issued a stern warning on Wednesday during a military exercise along the northern border with Lebanon, threatening further action against Hezbollah in Beirut. This comes after an Israeli airstrike killed Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukr.

Targeted strikes and plans

Halevi highlighted the significance of eliminating Shukr, who he described as a key military figure close to Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah. “Yesterday afternoon, we had an opportunity to eliminate Shukr, and we took it,” Halevi told the soldiers, emphasizing that the Israeli army would not allow Hezbollah to re-establish a presence near Israel’s northern border.

Ground operations in Beirut

Halevi further hinted at possible ground operations in Beirut

We know how to operate and reach a certain window in a neighborhood in Beirut. We also know how to target a specific point underground, and we can operate strongly on the ground if necessary.

Herzi Halevi

Blame and denial

Tel Aviv has accused Shukr of orchestrating a missile attack last Saturday that killed 12 people in the Druze town of Majdal Shams in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, though Hezbollah has denied responsibility. The airstrike that killed Shukr also claimed the lives of at least five others, including two children, according to Lebanese health authorities.

Broader context of escalation

This latest escalation comes amid fears of a full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah, following months of cross-border fire and an ongoing Israeli onslaught on Gaza. The conflict, which began last October after an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas, has resulted in over 39,400 deaths in Gaza.