Israel Launches Large Wave of Strikes Against Hezbollah

Latest Developments

• IDF Strikes Reported Against Multiple Hezbollah Positions: The IDF announced on April 8 that it had carried out the “largest attack across Lebanon” against Hezbollah targets since the war with Iran began in late February. According to Israel, approximately 50 Israeli air force aircraft carried out roughly 100 strikes in 10 minutes, with targets including Hezbollah “command centers, command and control sites, and the military arrays.” Attacks were reported in Beirut, the Bekaa Valley, and southern Lebanon.
• Chief of Staff Pledges ‘No Compromise’ on Northern Border Security: Following the attacks,IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said that Israel would “continue to strike the Hezbollah terror organization and seize every opportunity.” He added, “We will not compromise on the security of northern residents.” The IDF said that the strikes did not relate to the Pakistani-brokered two-week ceasefire in Iran, and the timing was coincidental. 
• Statements Diverge: A Hezbollah official told Lebanese news outlet Naharnet that the group had “not announced our adherence to the ceasefire since the Israelis are not adhering to it.” Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif claimed “an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon.” Sharif’s statement was disputed by the Israeli prime minister’s office and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who told Axiosthat “Lebanon is not part of the ceasefire agreement with Iran.”

FDD Expert Response

“Hezbollah, by its own admission, has been awaiting a ceasefire to force Beirut to rescind its bans on its arsenal and military activities and then proceed with regeneration. Such an outcome would be a setback not only for Israel, but also for the United States — whom Hezbollah has explicitly declared, in word and deed, to be its primary enemy.” — David Daoud, Senior Fellow

“Israel appears committed to degrading Hezbollah’s military infrastructure and stressing the decoupling of the Iran front from the Lebanon front. It is likely to continue pursuing that objective. The calculus could shift quickly, however, if Iran interprets Israeli strikes on Hezbollah as a violation of the ceasefire. It is also a matter of time before we see whether Hezbollah chooses to respond.” — Ahmad Sharawi, Senior Research Analyst

FDD Background and Analysis

“Hezbollah Emerged from Iran’s Revolution, Not ‘Resistance’ to Israel,” by Hussain Abdul-Hussain

“Israeli goals in Lebanon war shift from imminently disarming Hezbollah to reestablishing South Lebanon Security Zone,” by David Daoud

“Hezbollah Likely Employing FPV Drones Against IDF,” by Justin Leopold-Cohen and Ryan Brobst

“Lebanon declares Iranian ambassador-designate ‘persona non grata’ before Iranian missile explodes over Lebanese airspace,” by David Daoud