ENCOURAGED by the lack of an effective response by the international community to its carnage in Gaza, Israel has now imposed a full-fledged war on Lebanon on the pretext of neutralizing the threat posed by Hezbollah. After brutal bombing and missile attacks, now Jewish forces have launched a ground offensive in border areas of Lebanon and the air force and artillery are supporting ground forces with “precise strikes”.
Rhetoric notwithstanding, it is a foregone conclusion that destruction of Lebanon and Gaza would continue as the aggression has the full backing of the world’s only super power. As Israeli forces are killing scores of people daily in both wars, the United States and some of its Western allies hurl threats on Iran and justify military operations for ‘safety of Israelis’, ignoring the fact that Palestinians and Lebanese people too are entitled to their fundamental rights. This is despite the fact that Iran has made it clear it would not deploy its forces in Lebanon or Gaza to confront Israelis. As against this, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a fresh warning to Iran on Monday saying there was no place in the Middle-East beyond the reach of his country. Hezbollah’s deputy leader Naim Qassem has declared that their fighters are ready to confront any Israeli ground invasion of Lebanon. He has acknowledged the possibility of a long engagement and expressed readiness to teach a lesson to Israel. The warnings of the international community that prolongation of the war in Gaza will expand the conflict have come true and there are apprehensions of further escalation and expansion if timely measures are not taken to stop genocide in Lebanon.
