The Israeli airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburb marks a significant blow to Hezbollah, particularly to its elite Radwan force. The group, which has long operated under a cloak of secrecy, experienced a severe breach in its communications infrastructure, leading to the destruction of a nine-story apartment building and the deaths of at least 45 people, including key Hezbollah commanders. This Israeli infiltration of Hezbollah’s ranks has thrown the group into disarray, shaking one of the largest non-state fighting forces in the world.
Following the attack, Hezbollah's second-in-command, Naim Qassem, declared a “battle without limits,” signaling a new phase of escalated confrontations with Israel. In retaliation, Hezbollah launched its most forceful attack since confrontations began, targeting Israeli military sites and potentially introducing new medium-range rockets.
Emergency personnel work at a site of houses damaged following a rocket attack from Lebanon, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, in Kiryat Bialik, Israel, September 22, 2024.Shir Torem/Reuters
While Hezbollah’s supporters maintain their commitment, stating their readiness to sacrifice for the group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, the situation reflects the growing instability in the region. Israel’s recent strikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut, previously thought to provoke major retaliation, have instead exposed Hezbollah’s vulnerability, changing the dynamics of this long-standing conflict.
This escalating conflict continues to push both parties closer to a catastrophic war, with new, unwritten rules of engagement emerging in this decades-long struggle.
