Who’s Watching the Northern Front?

ARE WE ON the brink of a Third Lebanon War? Hopefully not, but all signs indicate heightened tension between Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based terrorist outfit, potentially pushing Israel towards military action in the region.

The biblical book of Jeremiah prophesies: “Out of the north evil will break forth.” This prophecy appears eerily relevant today as Hezbollah has intensified its attacks since October 7, launching rockets, missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) across wide areas in northern Israel.

By now, the world is familiar with the terrorist organisa­tion Hamas, which operates in Gaza and conducted the massacre in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and kidnapping 251 individuals, both young and old. Its ‘blood brother’ based in Lebanon, to the north of Israel, is Hezbollah, another Iranian proxy sponsored and trained by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards (IRGC). Both Hamas and Hezbollah report to Iran. Their primary goal is straightfor­ward—the eradication of Israel. This is not about an occupa­tion of specific territories but the desire to annihilate the state of Israel—the world’s only Jewish state, the sole true democracy in the region, and the only non-Arabic state in the Middle East (apart from, ironically, Iran).

While Hamas in Gaza holds 120 Israelis hostage on top of the two million Palestinians, Hezbollah holds captive the citizens of Lebanon. Lebanon, bordering Israel to the north, is a small country with a population of 5.5 million. Once known as the Switzerland of the Middle East, Lebanon, and particu­larly its southern region, became a base for Palestin­ian terror organisations that troubled Israel. Hezbollah and Hamas went for the same school of terrorism. Both use civilian popula­tions as human shields. Both leaders, Hassan Nasrallah and Yahya Sinwar are Islamic extremists. Unlike Sinwar who doesn’t appear in public, Nasrallah delivers pre-recorded speeches with intimidating messages di­rected at Israel and its allies.

After the October 7 massa­cre in southern Israel, Israelis near the Lebanese border fled their homes, fearing a similar fate. They worried that Hezbollah terrorists might breach the Israel-Lebanon border to launch attacks. The terror inflicted in the south was so terrify­ing that no one wanted to remain, especially with Hezbollah openly declaring its intentions.

The global media is focused on the war in Gaza but the con­flict on the northern front is gradually escalating. Over the past eight months, Hezbollah has launched more than 3,500 rockets and alike while also making several attempts to infiltrate Israel. Northern Israel, known as the Galilee, is a major tourist attrac­tion renowned for its lush forests, nature reserves, and pleasant weather. The Sea of Galilee is home to several historical sites significant to the life of Jesus. This is where Jesus walked on the water. Many of my childhood memories are of spending sum­mer vacations with my relatives who live in northern Galilee. Their Kibbutz lies less than 7km from the border, and my fam­ily there is under constant threat.

The northernmost town in Israel, Metula, sits right on the border. Founded in 1896, this small town has now become almost a ghost town. One-third of its beautiful heritage houses have been destroyed by direct attacks from Hezbollah. During the Lebanese Civil War, Metula was considered a safe haven, known as ‘The Good Fence’ for South Lebanese residents who sought medical treatment there. Hezbollah positioned itself along the border, directly targeting houses and people within its line of sight. The global media largely overlooks the destruction they cause. The ruined houses, burned fields, empty streets, and people who have lost their livelihoods, history, and belongings go un­reported. The suffering in Gaza receives far more attention, it has better public relations.

Palestinian terrorist organisations began occupying Lebanon over 50 years ago. In September 1970, Jordan expelled these outfits from its territory, prompting them to find fertile ground for growth in southern Lebanon.

The First Lebanon War broke out in 1982 following constant terror attacks on Israel by those terror groups that had settled in Lebanon. At the war’s end, the terrorist leaders were expelled to Tunisia. Still, for many years, and until 2000, Israel maintained a security strip to prevent further attacks on northern Israel. Following the withdrawal of the Israeli army from southern Lebanon, the UN Security Council issued a resolution prohib­iting the entry of ammunition into southern Lebanon. This resolution was largely ignored, and the terrorist groups continued to grow. The Second Lebanon War erupted in 2006 when Hezbollah launched a heavy artillery attack and kidnapped two Israeli soldiers.

Hassan Nasrallah and Yahya Sinwar are Islamic extremists. Unlike Sinwar who doesn’t appear in public, Nasrallah delivers pre-recorded speeches with intimidating messages directed at Israel and its allies

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After those wars, the Galilee has experienced peace and prosperity. The allegedly quiet years in the north were years in which Hezbollah strengthened its military capabilities, gathered intelligence, and waited for the right moment to strike. That moment appears to be now, coinciding with Israel’s engagement with Hamas in Gaza. As current events unfold, Israel will inevita­bly have to confront Hezbollah. Presently, it only responds to the attacks and doesn’t initiate attacks. Israel doesn’t want to escalate on the northern front while it is still in the final stages of the operation in Gaza against Hamas. Hamas in the south continues to reject any ceasefire offering and is waiting for the commence­ment of a more elaborate operation in the north. Both fronts are interconnected. It was discovered last week that Hezbollah uses the Beirut International Airport as a storage facility for ammuni­tion. It is anticipated that Hezbollah will also utilise hospitals and schools in Lebanon as its operational bases, a tactic similar to what Hamas has employed. Prime Minister Najib Mikati of Lebanon acknowledges that his country is on the brink of disas­ter. While Israel faces the necessity of defending itself against Hezbollah attacks, Mikati urges the international community to intervene and apply pressure on both Hezbollah and Israel to halt the escalating tensions. Qatar and the US realise that the key is the release of the Israeli hostages. It will stop the war in Gaza. It will prevent a war in Lebanon.

The recent Israeli com­mando operation to rescue four hostages in Gaza lifted the spirits of Israelis. Noa Argamani (27), abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7, was among the four. Visuals of her abduction are among the most widely recognised images of that day. Noa was taken on a motorcycle by a group of terror­ists. Her face was full of horror. Her boyfriend tried to rescue her but was abducted as well. Thereafter, they covered her head with a bag and took her to Gaza. The entire nation was captivated by her family’s story. Noa’s mother was battling cancer and her dy­ing wish was to see Noa one last time. Unfortunately, by the time Noa was rescued, her mother had already become unconscious.

The families of the hostages persist in their protests alongside renewed demonstrations against Netanyahu and his government. Initially subdued during the early months of the Gaza war, these protests have resurged as frustration with the Netanyahu administration mounts. Calls are growing for Netanyahu to announce a date for new elections, arguing that he lacks a mandate from the people and should either resign or call elections. The protesters humorously suggested a solution to the hostage situation. Instead of the 120 hostages, they proposed offering Hamas the 120 members of the Israeli parliament, the Knesset.

About The Author

Anat Bernstein-Reich

Anat Bernstein-Reich is chairperson of the Israel-Asia Chamber of Commerce, a Friend of India Awardee for 2020, and CEO of BDO Israel-India Investment Banking firm

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