Middle East crisis live: Hezbollah launches drone attack on northern Israel as border skirmishes continue
GuardianAUG 2024
Hezbollah Launches Fresh Drone Attacks on Northern Israel
Above: Yemenis chant slogans as they take part in a protest staged against the Israeli killing of Hezbollah senior commander Fouad Shukur, and in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners on August 3, 2024. Image copyright: Mohammed Hamoud/Contributor/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-Israel narrative
Israel's decision to kill terror leaders is the opposite of escalation. Rather than bomb civilians like former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has done to Israel for decades, Tel Aviv chose to go after the brains of these terror plots, which, in the long-term, leads to less bloodshed. These assassinations exemplify Israel's commitment to limiting civilian casualties and only fighting terrorism.
Pro-establishment narrative
While Israel has a right to prepare for an all-out war with Hezbollah, its latest assassinations may not be the best path forward. Hezbollah knows it can't go face-to-face against Israel, and Iran doesn't want to lose its advanced weapons based in Lebanon, which means there is hope for a diplomatic solution. The US should sanction Lebanon to push it away from Iran and thus toward peace.
Establishment-critical narrative
The US is incapable of controlling Israel or Lebanon. Washington's military aid to the Lebanese government has done nothing to deter Hezbollah, while its unwavering support of Israel has only emboldened the IDF. The US is now contradicting itself again by asking for both sides to choose diplomacy while also telling Israel it has American support should an all-out war take place. US foreign policy may push us into yet another Middle East war.