Israel And Hezbollah Somehow Avoided War

Hezbollah has decided to retaliate for the death of one of their top commanders, Fuad Shukr, who was killed in an airstrike in Beirut, Lebanon, on July 30th. It's important not to confuse this with the expected retaliation from Iran. Reports suggest that Hezbollah had about 6,000 rockets ready, but only around 300 were launched. This was mainly because Israel launched a preemptive strike, sending 100 jets on the offensive before relying on the Iron Dome defense system. As for the damage assessment, aside from a chicken coop, some buildings, and a woman with minor shrapnel wounds, Israel seems to have effectively stopped the attack.

I’m finding it difficult to get accurate data on the damage on Hezbollah's side, but even Hezbollah has stated that this is just the beginning, and they need more time to further engage with Israel in the future. I want to emphasize that while Israel sees this as a significant act of aggression, they are still saying it’s up to Hezbollah to decide whether they want to continue the conflict or attempt another strike on Israel.

My final thoughts on this situation are how a full-scale conflict was ultimately avoided. Israel says they took steps to prevent it by launching a preemptive attack and informing the U.S. that strikes were coming. Hezbollah also stated that they never wanted an all-out war, just a proportional response they felt was appropriate for avenging their commander. Unfortunately, we can likely expect more violence in the Middle East as tensions continue to rise.

Best Regards,

Marcus Obeada