IDF Strikes Terror Targets in Lebanon After Hezbollah Escalation

Latest Developments

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out extensive strikes on Hezbollah targets overnight on August 21-22 after significant escalation by the terrorist group. The IDF said that it carried out strikes in 10 different areas in southern Lebanon. “The widespread strikes come in response to a Hezbollah barrage of 50 rockets the previous day at the northern town of Katzrin that caused significant damage and wounded an Israeli man,” The Times of Israel reported. The strikes targeted weapons storage facilities, terror infrastructure, and other places Hezbollah has used to carry out attacks on Israel. The Iran-backed terrorist group has launched more than 7,500 rockets and 200 kamikaze drones at Israel over the past 10 months.

Expert Analysis

“The noticeable escalation between Israel and Hezbollah has occurred within the ‘rules of the game’ governing the now 10-month war of attrition and along a now familiar pattern. But recently, there has been an added edge to Israel’s strikes in Lebanon — perhaps anticipating Hezbollah’s expected retaliation for the IDF’s elimination of Hezbollah’s military chief Fuad Shukr on July 30 — that is meant to send a message of deterrence to the group.” — David Daoud, FDD Senior Fellow

“The latest IDF strikes are important because they represent a message to Hezbollah that the IDF is prepared to increase its response to Hezbollah’s daily escalation of attacks. After 10 months of Hezbollah’s assaults on northern Israel, the IDF is increasingly winning in Gaza and is prepared to shift more focus to the Lebanon front.” — Seth J. Frantzman, FDD Adjunct Fellow

Hezbollah Escalation Comes as Iran Continues to Threaten Israel

The IDF’s strikes on Hezbollah come as Iran continues threatening to carry out attacks on Israel. “Deputy Commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Brigadier General Ali Fadavi says his country will definitely punish the Israeli regime in due time and place for assassinating Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran,” Iranian state media IRNA reported on August 19. His comments come after two weeks in which Iran appeared on the cusp of carrying out attacks on Israel, possibly in coordination with Hezbollah, for the second time since April 13. As Iran continues its threats, Hezbollah continues to publicly take responsibility for its daily attacks. On August 21, Hezbollah’s Al-Manar news outlet published a list of sites the group claims to have targeted over the past several days.

Related Analysis

“Hezbollah Launches Fifty Rockets at Israel, Striking Town in Golan,” FDD Flash Brief

“Hezbollah Unveils Vast Underground Missile Complex,” FDD Flash Brief

“IDF Officer Killed in Hezbollah Drone Attack on Northern Israel,” FDD Flash Brief