Amidst escalating tensions with Lebanon, supporters of the Hezbollah terrorist organization are voicing increasing frustration over what they perceive as abandonment by their allies, particularly Iran. The sentiment follows recent IDF operations and the elimination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

A report published overnight between Monday and Tuesday in The Telegraph revealed growing discontent among Lebanese citizens over the apparent indifference of Arab nations to their situation.

Hana Mrad, a 43-year-old Lebanese woman who has been sleeping in her car with her two daughters since the elimination of Nasrallah, told The Telegraph, "If Iran had wanted to help, they would have helped a long time ago. Everyone has abandoned us and now Iran has, too."

Another Lebanese citizen suggested a conspiracy theory, claiming, "Iran sacrificed Nasrallah, that is the only explanation. Iran organized the meeting where Nasrallah was killed and told Israel where he would be. How else would Israel know where he was and what other reason can there be for Iran refusing to fight with Hezbollah?"

Haidar, a Shiite who fled his home in southern Beirut, echoed this sentiment, "Hezbollah sacrificed itself for Iran, but Iran will not sacrifice for Hezbollah."

However, not all Shiite Muslims in Lebanon share these views. Some believe Iran is working behind the scenes and still has plans for aggression against Israel.

Other Lebanese citizens refuse to accept Nasrallah's elimination. One woman said, "We have not seen a body and they keep delaying the funeral," one woman said. "Maybe this is all a plan to trick the Israelis and we will see him again soon."

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Israel commenced limited ground operations within Lebanese territory along the border on Monday night.

"In accordance with the decision of the political echelon, a few hours ago, the IDF began limited, localized, and targeted ground raids based on precise intelligence against Hezbollah terrorist targets and infrastructure in southern Lebanon," the IDF said in a statement. "These targets are located in villages close to the border and pose an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel. The IDF is operating according to a methodical plan set out by the General Staff and the Northern Command which IDF soldiers have trained and prepared for in recent months. The Israeli Air Force and IDF Artillery are supporting the ground forces with precise strikes on military targets in the area. These operations were approved and carried out in accordance with the decision of the political echelon. Operation 'Northern Arrows' will continue according to the situational assessment and in parallel to combat in Gaza and in other arenas. The IDF is continuing to operate to achieve the goals of the war and is doing everything necessary to defend the citizens of Israel and return the citizens of northern Israel to their homes." The offensive comes just days after Israel took out Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah as part of its effort to remove the threat posed by the Shiite terrorist organization on the north after almost a year of constant rocket fire on some 1 million residents.

Simultaneously, Arab media outlets have reported a series of airstrikes targeting more than five towns in southern Lebanon. Foreign sources indicate that the IDF has urged residents of southern Lebanese villages near the border to evacuate. The IDF's Arabic spokesperson also issued an urgent warning to residents of southern Dahiyah suburb in Beirut, anticipating strikes against Hezbollah targets, with residents already reporting attacks a short while later.

Reuters news agency, citing local residents and a security source, reported that the Lebanese army has pulled back from several positions along the southern border. The withdrawal extended approximately 3 miles from the Lebanon-Israel border, coinciding with reports of Israeli shelling in southern Lebanese villages. Al-Manar, a channel with ties to Hezbollah, reported attacks and shelling in over 20 villages across southern Lebanon in recent hours. Saudi Arabia's Al-Hadath channel reported the sounds of aircraft and tanks in a southern Lebanese village close to the Israeli border.

Concurrently, Lebanon's Al-Jadeed channel stated that Israeli forces have not yet approached the Blue Line, the official boreer. Lebanese media outlets have refuted claims of Israeli attempts to advance beyond the border, asserting that the border remains intact. Al-Jadeed channel reported that the Lebanese army's withdrawal was executed at the request of UNIFIL forces, citing the possibility of an Israeli ground offensive. The evacuation of positions reportedly took place in the early evening hours. Al-Hadath channel reported on "Israeli preparations for the deployment of ground and commando forces to identify and neutralize Hezbollah targets."In an interview with Al-Mayadeen, Mahmoud Qmati, a member of Hezbollah's political council, warned that if the campaign escalates, "our allies will intervene." Meanwhile, Lebanon's MTV reported Israeli tank and artillery fire targeting the villages of Al-Khiam, Kafr Kila, and Al-Wazzani in southern Lebanon, near the Israeli border.

Al-Mayadeen channel noted that the artillery barrage in these areas has persisted for two hours The IDF and Israel's defense establishment are gearing up for a potential ground maneuver in Lebanon. Northern Command Chief, Major General Uri Gordin, has approved plans for the coming days, while Metula, Misgav Am, and Kfar Giladi have been designated as closed military zones. The Security Cabinet convened to grant final approvals for continued operations in Lebanon.

Senior Israeli officials, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Amir Baram, have alluded to the imminent ground operation. Gallant stated, "The next phase in the war against Hezbollah will commence shortly - it will significantly alter the security landscape and facilitate the crucial task of returning residents to their homes."Major General Baram added: "Last Friday, in a sophisticated operation involving the Intelligence Division and the Air Force, which combined strategic audacity and impressive aerial coordination, we held accountable the arch-murderer who led the regional axis working to destroy Israel - Hassan Nasrallah."

The Washington Post reports that Israel has informed the United States of the potential for an imminent ground operation, though the scope is expected to be more limited compared to the 2006 Second Lebanon War.Knesset member and Security Cabinet member, Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri, shared a prayer for the safety of soldiers on his X page.

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Israeli special forces have been carrying out small, targeted raids into southern Lebanon, according to people familiar with the matter cited by The Wall Street Journal, just days after Israel carried out the dramatic elimination of Hezbollah's secretary general Hassan Nasrallah. These operations, aimed at gathering intelligence and probing Hezbollah's defenses, come amid speculation of a possible ground incursion that could occur as early as this week.

The raids, which have included entering Hezbollah's tunnels along the border, have taken place recently as well as over past months. They are part of a broader Israeli effort to degrade Hezbollah's capabilities along the Israel-Lebanon border, the sources told The Wall Street Journal.

While the timing of any potential ground action remains fluid, Israel faces significant pressure from the United States to refrain from launching a major invasion. The scale and duration of any incursion remain unclear, with sources suggesting it could range from a series of larger raids to a more sustained presence in Lebanese territory.

US officials have repeatedly cautioned Israel against actions that could broaden the conflict. The pressure from Washington underscores the delicate balance Israel must strike between addressing perceived security threats and avoiding a wider regional conflagration.

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The IDF has eliminated Nabil Qaouk, a high-ranking Hezbollah official and deputy to the organization's designated secretary-general, the military announced Sunday.

Qaouk, who played a pivotal role in orchestrating attacks against Israel, was eliminated in an operation that underscores the expanding scope of the IDF's military actions in Lebanon.

According to the IDF, Qaouk was the commander of Hezbollah's preventive security unit and a member of the organization's central council. Known to be a close associate of Hezbollah's top echelon, he was actively involved in developing terror operations against Israel and its citizens, including in recent days.

Having joined Hezbollah in the 1980s, Qaouk held various leadership positions, including deputy head and head of the Southern Region for the Executive Council, and deputy chairman of the Executive Council. He was a frequent media presence, serving as Hezbollah's representative to the Shiite community and offering commentary on political, military, and strategic issues.

Media outlets sympathetic to Hezbollah reported that Qaouk had been killed in Dahieh, a southern suburb of Beirut. He served as the deputy to Safi Al-Din, who is positioned to succeed Hassan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah leader who was eliminated on Friday. This assassination suggests that even high-ranking officials in the organization's political wing are now within the IDF's scope. Two Hezbollah religious figures were also reported killed in recent days.

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For years, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah repeatedly claimed that "Israel is weaker than a spider's web." This message was woven throughout his speeches and echoed in Hamas propaganda. The entire Iran-backed alliance believed it. The goal wasn't just psychological; it had an operational purpose. It was meant to motivate the organization's operatives, especially the Radwan Force, to train even more vigorously for the conquest of the Galilee, seen as the first step in Israel's total destruction.

To be honest, albeit regrettably, some Israeli actions reinforced this message in the narrative of the "resistance axis" and Hezbollah itself, rather than undermining it. The refusal to eliminate armed Hezbollah operatives approaching the border, instead chasing them away; the months-long reluctance to destroy two tents Hezbollah erected on Mount Dov beyond the international border line as a challenge to Israeli sovereignty and a sign of its weakness; along with Israel's internal weakness displayed in the year before the war – all these strengthened Nasrallah's belief that Israel was indeed a paper tiger that would immediately collapse once the Radwan Force invaded northern settlements and conquered the Galilee.

The 500 casualties Hezbollah has suffered since deciding to attack Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, and the enormous losses Hamas endured in the Gaza Strip following its terror attacks against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, began to change the picture, both within Hezbollah and among the Lebanese public.

Many in Lebanon, even if not among Hezbollah supporters, who witnessed the increasing power of Israeli Air Force strikes in Lebanon and the massive destruction in Gaza, began to express public opposition to the war. This is an unprecedented phenomenon in Lebanon.

The situation took another dramatic turn last week following the pager and radio communication device attack on Hezbollah operatives and senior officials, which took thousands of them out of the fight within seconds. It intensified further with the surprising and, from Nasrallah's perspective, shocking elimination of the Radwan Force leadership in the heart of Dahieh.

Although Nasrallah claimed in his speech responding to these events that they didn't affect the organization's operational capabilities, no one in Lebanon believes him anymore. Hezbollah is perceived as weak, and there's a prevailing understanding that in this conflict, Israel undoubtedly has the upper hand – technologically, militarily, and in terms of intelligence.

The Israeli Air Force bombings in southern Lebanon and the Beqaa Valley over the past two days, which hit hundreds of important Hezbollah assets built over many years, and Israeli awareness efforts directed at Lebanese public opinion, aimed at evacuating civilian populations from villages turned by Hezbollah into weapons depots and launch sites for cruise missiles, rockets, and drones, make it clear to every Lebanese and every member of the Iran-backed alliance that Israel is a real tiger. Everyone now understands that underestimating it was a very costly mistake.

Even in interviews with Lebanese commentators on the country's TV networks, it's explicitly stated: "We thought we could destroy Israel and liberate Palestine. We were gravely mistaken."

Even if Nasrallah publicly maintains that the Lebanese front is linked to the Gaza front and that his organization will continue to fire at Israel as long as there's no ceasefire in the Strip, it seems that, watching the refugee convoys traveling from southern Lebanon to Beirut and the significant casualties his organization suffers daily at Israel's hands, Nasrallah surely regrets now believing his own false propaganda.

The consequences of this mistake are now manifesting in Hezbollah's unprecedented and long-term weakening. Every day that the Israel Defense Forces powerfully strikes Hezbollah's infrastructure and denies it capabilities built over decades to harm Israel brings closer the day when northern residents will return to their homes and enjoy long-term peace.

Alongside the military effort, successful influence and psychological warfare efforts on the Lebanese public, whose trust in Hezbollah has been severely shaken and whose fear of Israel has intensified sevenfold, must continue. This axis – which sears the enemy's consciousness – will also ensure long-term quiet on the northern border.

Ofir Gendelman is a fellow at the Misgav Institute for National Security & Zionist Strategy. 

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Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah spoke from Beirut on Thursday, addressing recent explosions targeting communication devices of terrorists in Lebanon. The operation resulted in 37 fatalities and thousands of injuries among the terror group's members. Hezbollah accused Israel of the attacks.

Nasrallah sent condolences to the families of the dead and wished recovery to the injured. He thanked the Lebanese government and medical staff for treating the victims, and praised blood donors for what he called "the largest blood donation drive in Lebanon's history."

"This operation is a major act of terror and a massacre that amounts to a declaration of war," Nasrallah claimed. He announced that Hezbollah has set up an internal investigation committee to examine the incident.

Video: The scene of one of the explosions in Lebanon

The Hezbollah chief mentioned assistance from Syria and pro-Iranian allies. He admitted that many of the wounded suffered eye injuries, with over 500 people affected and 300 cases resulting in complete loss of vision.

Nasrallah declared that the communication device explosions had crossed all boundaries and "all red lines." He alleged, "The blasts occurred in hospitals and residential areas," claiming they affected both civilians and Hezbollah members.

According to Nasrallah, 4,000 devices were activated in one minute, baselessly accusing Israel of intending to kill 4,000 people at once. He further alleged, "In one minute on Tuesday, and in one minute on Wednesday, Israel wanted to kill 5,000 people."

Nasrallah admitted the operation was a significant blow to his organization: "There is no doubt that we were subjected to a major security and humanitarian blow, unprecedented in the history of the resistance in Lebanon.

"We know that the enemy has technological superiority and support from the US and NATO. Tuesday and Wednesday were difficult days for us. It's a big blow, but it didn't knock us down and won't knock us down.

"The enemy admitted that it lost the north. This forced Netanyahu and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to provide a solution to this front, which is considered one of the most important attrition fronts. Our front is one of the most important negotiating cards that the Palestinian resistance has to stop the aggression in Gaza."

Nasrallah revealed, "We received official and unofficial threats of further strikes if we do not agree to a ceasefire. We cannot surrender to these threats or stop supporting Gaza. We tell Netanyahu and Gallant, to the army, the Lebanon front will not stop before the aggression on Gaza stops. For 11 months I've been saying these things, even after all the recent casualties. The resistance in Lebanon will not stop supporting and assisting the people of Gaza and the West Bank."

The terror chief referred to an Israel Hayom publication, which revealed that IDF Northern Command chief Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin suggested establishing a buffer zone between Israel and Lebanon. "The commander of the Northern Command suggested entering the frontier villages on the ground and establishing a security zone. We hope they will enter by land because currently they are hiding in sites and with great effort we are finding them. But if they enter – welcome. This is a historic opportunity and we are hoping for it," Nasrallah said.

Earlier, Arab media reported that the brother of a senior Hezbollah official was arrested for questioning. According to the report, Hezbollah is investigating the intelligence breach that allowed infiltration of pagers and communication devices.

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The Wall Street Journal's editorial board has published an opinion piece praising Israel's recent military action against Hezbollah. The op-ed titled "Israel Stymies Hezbollah's Attack" argued that the "IDF's success in preempting a larger attack and the terrorists' failed response limited the escalation."

The op-ed began with an ancient Jewish proverb – "If someone comes to kill you, rise and kill him first." The board argues that Israel had "no choice but to heed this counsel" in its recent engagement with Hezbollah, contrasting this success with the tragic events of October 7.

According to the op-ed, Hezbollah has fired "more than 6,700 missiles and drones" into Israel since joining Hamas's assault on October 8. The editorial board details how Israeli and US intelligence detected preparations for a major Hezbollah attack on Saturday, including potential strikes on "intelligence bases near Tel Aviv."

The WSJ describes Israel's response: "Around 4:45 am, preempting the attack Hezbollah now admits was scheduled for 5:15 am, some 100 Israeli jets destroyed hundreds of rockets and launchers in southern Lebanon." In the aftermath, the editorial notes that Hezbollah fired "210 rockets and 20 drones, most of which were intercepted or hit open space in Israel."

The board notes Hezbollah's typical rhetoric, reporting that the group "called its salvo a great success." However, they contrast this claim with the actual impact, stating, "One Israeli woman was lightly wounded by rocket shrapnel, and one Israeli sailor was killed by shrapnel from an interceptor." The writers make light of the impact of this retaliation, stating that "Hezbollah's best direct hit seems to have been on an Israeli chicken coop." To further emphasize the limited effect of Hezbollah's attack, the board points out, "The blue-chip Tel Aviv 35 stock index rose 2% for the day," implying that the financial markets remained largely unperturbed by the incident.

The opinion piece takes aim at what it calls the "knee-jerk response from the global left" to condemn Israel for "escalation." Instead, the editorial argues that "in greatly reducing the damage from Hezbollah's attack, the Israeli strike limited the escalation" and "Israel has the right to defeat Hezbollah, not merely defend itself."

Notably, the op-ed calls Iran "the dog that didn't bark" and points out its absence from direct involvement, suggesting that Tehran "shrank from joining directly" due to the "surge of US forces to the region."

The editorial concludes by addressing the ongoing Gaza negotiations, noting that Hezbollah's attack comes "on a key weekend" for these talks. The board poses a critical question about US policy: "Will President Biden, fearing escalation, now add to the pressure on Israel to make dangerous ceasefire concessions?" They conclude by saying that Hamas and Hezbollah should "contemplate their military failures" and "be making the concessions."

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Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah threatened Wednesday to invade Israel's northern Galilee region if the current round of hostilities with Israel, which it initiated, escalates.

In a televised speech commemorating senior Hezbollah commander Taleb Sami Abdullah, who was killed in an airstrike last week, Nasrallah said, "An invasion of Galilee is something that remains on the table if the conflict escalates."

Nasrallah also issued a stern threat to Cyprus, vowing to strike the island nation if it allows IDF forces to use its airports to attack Lebanon. "We will attack Cyprus if it assists Israel," he declared.

Cyprus quickly rejected the threats, with President Nicos Anastasiades responding: "Cyprus is not participating in conflicts. It is part of the solution, not part of the problem."

The Hezbollah chief also boasted that his group had developed new weapons and capabilities to strike Israel, including in the Mediterranean region. "We have a bank of targets in the entity and the ability to reach them. What awaits Israel in the Mediterranean is very big."

Nasrallah's rhetoric was pushed back by Israeli military officials who said the Iran-backed terror group has taken significant losses in the ongoing conflict. In an interview with the Saudi Arabian network Al-Arabiya, IDF Spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said that 430 Hezbollah terrorists have been eliminated since the war began – over 80 more than the official toll of around 350 claimed by the terror group itself.

"We are specifically attacking Hezbollah and know where its members are located," Hagri stated, adding that Israel is prepared to handle any scenario. He also accused Nasrallah of misleading the Lebanese people, saying, "Nasrallah is taking Lebanon down a dangerous path and preventing the Lebanese people from knowing the truth."

Meanwhile, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi visited air defense batteries in northern Israel, praising the troops for providing security to civilians even as he warned Hezbollah that Israel possesses formidable military capabilities the enemy cannot comprehend.

"This defense provides a lot of security for civilians and the IDF, but we are not satisfied with that...I think the enemy only knows a small part of the capabilities we hold, and will encounter them when needed at the right time," Halevi cautioned.

The current round of conflict began following the Oct. 7 onslaught after Hezbollah launched missiles into Israeli territory in an unprovoked attack. Tensions have since risen to their highest point since the 2006 Lebanon War.

Ariel Kahana contributed to this report.

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Sirens rang out across several cities in northern Israel after the IDF intercepted an airborne target that infiltrated from Lebanon amidst the ongoing Gaza war, now in its 248th day.

The alarms blared in the coastal cities of Acre, with the blasts heard in the Haifa region as missiles were fired to eliminate the airborne threat. According to the IDF, the incident concluded successfully and the interception triggered concerns over potential falling debris, activating the rocket alert systems in those areas as a precaution.

Video: Iron Dome interception over Haifa region

According to reports, multiple interceptions took place in the Acre and Haifa vicinity, with residents reporting hearing several explosions. Emergency services reported only one minor injury, a woman who was hurt while seeking shelter.

Video: Iron Dome interception of Hezbollah rockets near Safed in Northern Israel

Meanwhile, Arab sources claimed IDF forces were engaged in overnight operations in Palestinian refugee camps in the West Bank, marked by exchanges of fire and an explosive attack on an Israeli military bulldozer.

The events unfolded as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was preparing for meetings with both  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant during his current visit.

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Senior Israeli officials have warned that the IDF may soon decide whether to launch a major offensive against the Hezbollah terror organization in Lebanon after months of escalating clashes, The Washington Post reported. 

The current round of conflict began following the Oct. 7 onslaught after Hezbollah launched missiles into Israeli territory in an unprovoked attack. Tensions have since risen to their highest point since the 2006 Lebanon War. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi have suggested Israel is prepared to take decisive military action to restore security in the north. Netanyahu vowed to achieve this "one way or another," while Halevi said the army was ready for an offensive after training. Another cabinet minister, Benny Gantz, pledged the hostilities would be dealt with by summer's end through either diplomacy or military escalation.

Despite initiating the current round of hostilities, Hezbollah has stated it does not want full-blown war but is ready for one if imposed. Its deputy leader said their decision is not to widen the conflict but added that "if it is imposed on us, we are ready for it." Hezbollah has also said no deal can happen before a ceasefire in Gaza.

The US and its allies have pushed for months for an agreement to demarcate the border, move Hezbollah back, and increase the Lebanese army's presence.

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