Israel-Lebanon News: Israeli attacks continue in Lebanon after killing of Hezbollah leader as Iran vows revenge

Frank Gardner
Security correspondent

Israel's killing of Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's longtime leader, represents a significant escalation in its war with the Lebanese militant group.

It may have brought the region one step closer to a much larger and more damaging conflict involving both Iran and the United States.

Israel clearly has no intention of pausing its military campaign for the 21-day ceasefire proposed by 12 nations, including its closest ally the United States.

The military believes Hezbollah is now on the defensive and will therefore want to continue its offensive until the threat of these missiles is eliminated.

Without Hezbollah surrendering – which is unlikely – it is difficult to see how Israel can achieve its war goal of eliminating the threat of Hezbollah attacks without sending ground troops.

To this end, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has released footage of its infantry exercises near the border.

But Hezbollah has also spent the last 18 years, since the end of the last war, training to fight the next war. In his last public speech before his death, Nasrallah told his supporters that an Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon was, in his words, “a historic opportunity.”

It would be relatively easy for the IDF to invade Lebanon. But the withdrawal – as in Gaza – could take months.

Read more: What might Hezbollah, Israel and Iran do next?