The pro-Iranian armed organization Hezbollah and the Israeli forces carried out counter-attacks across the Lebanon-Israel border area this Sunday morning. However, since the start of the Israeli attack on Gaza on October 7 last year, Hezbollah has been involved in a conflict with the country. But today’s attack was particularly noteworthy. Let’s see what happened this morning.

Israeli warplanes attacked southern Lebanon early today. Israel says Hezbollah’s rocket launchers were being developed to attack them. Therefore, this attack was carried out as an advance warning.

According to the Israeli military, they learned that Hezbollah will attack central Israel with hundreds of missiles at around five o’clock today. Therefore, half an hour before this, 100 warplanes were used to attack Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah said rocket and drone attacks were carried out in northern Israel in retaliation for the killing of its leader Fuad Shukhar last month.

The situation seems to be calm at least for now. Hezbollah has denied the fact of Israel’s attack on its rocket launch system. It said it had successfully completed the “first phase” of a retaliatory strike against Israel.

Various security directives have been issued in northern Israel following the Hezbollah attack. The country’s Ben Gurion Airport was closed for several hours after the attack.

Hezbollah said in a statement that Sunday was the 40th day after the death anniversary of Imam Hussain (RA). The day is known as “Arbain” among Shias. They observe it as Martyr’s Day. That is why the day was chosen for the attack.

Is this attack the start of Hezbollah-Israel war?

Sami Nader, director of the Levant Institute for Strategic Affairs, said that the retaliatory attack on Sunday has raised the possibility of a full-scale war in the Middle East region. However, Israel and Hezbollah are trying to avoid such a situation.

Israel does not want a full-scale war, Reuters news agency quoted Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz as saying. However, the situation will take action according to the direction. Analyst Sami Nader thinks that this counterattack indicates the increase of the conflict. However, according to Al-Jazeera journalist Zeina Khodr, Israel is talking about “its own security” and the protection of Israeli citizens in attacking Hezbollah. This means that the country will not be moving towards a large-scale conflict for the time being.