Lebanon war intensifies as Israel splits fronts, opens third front in Syria

Report by Amal Shehadeh, English adaptation by Karine Keuchkerian 

In a move that keeps the war in Lebanon without a clear horizon, Israel has instructed its security agencies to separate the Lebanese front from the one in Iran, on the grounds that ending the war in Iran while continuing it against Hezbollah would force the group to pay the price for entering the conflict.

On the ground, the military continues to expand its attacks and deepen its incursions into Lebanon, while the security cabinet is studying new targets described as high-value.

The war in Lebanon has become increasingly difficult as Hezbollah’s ability to launch rockets at Israel intensifies, keeping millions of Israelis in shelters for extended periods, as the military reveals part of its operations.

Lebanon is thus considered an “open tactical front,” while Iran represents a strategic front where Tel Aviv has acknowledged growing challenges linked to cluster-type missiles, which now make up 70% of those directed toward Israel.

As challenges mount on both the Iranian and Lebanese fronts, Israel has opened a third front following its surprise strikes in Syria targeting infrastructure belonging to the Syrian government. 

Its intelligence reports say the intervention came after detecting vehicles loaded with weapons heading toward Sweida for use against the Druze community, as Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened to confront anyone who harms the country’s allies.