Hezbollah threatens retaliation against Israel if attacks persist

In March 2025, Israel launched an attack on Beirut, Lebanon, marking its first strike on the capital since a ceasefire ended the Israel-Hezbollah war in November 2024. The airstrike followed the firing of two rockets from Lebanon toward Israel, which Hezbollah denied initiating. This situation has escalated tensions in the region, as Israeli military actions have reportedly resulted in civilian casualties, including women and children. Hezbollah's leader, Naim Qassem, expressed that the group remains committed to the ceasefire but is prepared to pursue other means of resistance should Israel persist in its military aggression. Under the ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States, Israeli forces were to withdraw from Lebanese territories, while Hezbollah was required to end its military presence south of the Litani River. Despite these obligations, Israeli forces have continued their operations, conducting airstrikes on various Hezbollah targets within Lebanon, considerably straining the already fragile peace between the two entities. Qassem described the Israeli strikes as not merely violations but acts of aggression that cross all limits. The Israeli government has reacted to the continued hostilities by performing airstrikes, which have now resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries among Lebanese civilians, further complicating the situation on the ground. Hezbollah has maintained that these Israeli aggressions have not gone unanswered, but the organization has sought to project an image of restraint as it navigates the delicate balance between responding to provocations and adhering to the ceasefire. The accumulation of violence has led to apprehension regarding the possibility of renewed conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, particularly with the backdrop of recent regional tensions. As tensions mount, Qassem emphasized that the group would exhaust all political options before resorting to its military capabilities, asserting Hezbollah's strength in countering Israeli and American projects in the region. The threat of a resumption of hostilities looms, especially given that the humanitarian situation in Lebanon is already precarious, with many residents still feeling the repercussions of earlier conflicts. The Israeli government, on the other hand, has faced criticism from its own citizens regarding its strategic handling of the ceasefire, which many feel is inadequate in protecting Israeli territory from the threats posed by Hezbollah.