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For months now, analysts and academic observers have warned of how tensions could easily spin out of control in the Middle East and provoke a major war. This came several steps closer this week after a fortnight of Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon culminated in the killing on September 28 of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah. This was followed two days later by the launch of Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon (which it referred to as a “limited ground operation”).
The airstrike that hit Nasrallah was part of a concerted campaign dubbed “Operation Northern Arrow” by Israel, which is preparing to mark the first anniversary since the October 7 attacks that sparked this conflict. Israel’s strike aimed to decapitate Hezbollah and neutralise as much of its senior command structure as possible.
