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Of all neighbouring countries affected by the war in Gaza, cross-border attacks between Lebanon and Israel have had the highest impact on civilians so far and raise fears of a re-escalation similar to the 2006 war. The recent Israeli airstrike on Southern Beirut, aimed at assassinating Hizballah’s senior military commander Fuʿad Shukr, represents a new peak in attacks. It has now been confirmed that Shukr did not survive the attack, which also killed three persons and injured 74, including children. Declaring support for Hamas (harakat al-muqawama al-islamiyya), Hizballah entered the war between Israel and Gaza on 8 October 2024. Hizballah, a decades-old and combat capable armed group with strong influence in the political, economic and societal spheres in Lebanon, has at its disposal a large arsenal of missiles, rockets and drones that allow for precision strikes; against this backdrop and a historically hostile rhetoric, Hizballah is targeting Israel. At the same time, Israel regularly targets Lebanon.
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