Israel, Hezbollah rattle swords, with military drills near border
The military drills of Hezbollah and of the Israel Defense Forces — only a few days apart — reflect growing tensions on Israel’s northern border.
TEL AVIV — Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah registered a new peak these past few days, with the Lebanon-based group staging an unprecedented show of force mid-May in southern Lebanon, and the Israel Defense Forces launching an exceptionally large multifront military exercise across the country on May 29.
All this was taking place against the backdrop of mounting threats by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant against Iran, and resurgent hints of preparations for an Israeli military offensive against Iranian nuclear facilities.
The significance of the two drills — carried out almost in parallel — is clear to both sides. In fact, the Israel-Hezbollah saber-rattling provided a preview of a potential multitheater war pitting Iran and its proxies against Israel.
Hezbollah’s drill simulated a varied scenario of special forces penetrating Israel, including a takeover of Israeli communities and capture of hostages, as well as the potential launch of thousands of precision rockets and missiles at the Israeli heartland.
