The chance of peace, even if temporary, returning to the Middle East has suffered a deadly blow after Israel killed Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in a powerful airstrike in Beirut 27 September. The Israeli military said it had targeted the group’s central command headquarters in Beirut’s southern suburbs to eliminate Nasrallah. Hezbollah confirmed he had been killed, without saying how. It is to be noted that while opting for micro-targeting, Israel is per force having to massively bomb civilian targets as the terror outfit had built bunkers and tunnels under homes of innocent city dwellers.
Israel has for long been trying to destroy the terror network of Hezbollah and cripple Iran which has been allegedly arming the group. It had a deadly encounter nearly 18 years back in Lebanon and had to retreat in the face of Hezbollah’s offensive under the leadership of Nasrallah. Iran is known to support such Shi’ite network of allied groups in the Arab world. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gloated over the killing of Nasrallah terming it as a necessary step toward “changing the balance of power in the region for years to come.” Whatever his bravado, there is no denying the fact that he has made his point loud and clear that the world outside which supports Hamas and Hezbollah is, in reality, supporting terrorist outfits which are openly preaching violence as the only method of a settlement in the Mid East. This present situation could escalate to push the Middle East to the brink of war with the possibility of a direct war with Iran and outfits groomed by the latter in several Arab countries. Sensing that such a danger is looming large, US President Joe Biden said, “it is time for a ceasefire,” though he described Nasrallah’s death as a “measure of justice” for what he called his many victims, including thousands of Americans, Israelis and Lebanese. It is only natural that he would back Israel by fully supporting its “right to self-defence.”
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At the same time, Biden is aware of the damage that escalation of the conflict in the Middle East may cause to the prospect of his party in the US presidential election in November. Undoubtedly, the killing of Nasrallah and several other key commanders of Hezbollah in Israel’s super precise air strike is a major blow to the outfit’s capacity for inflicting damage on Israel which in effect poses a big challenge to Iran’s position in the Arab world. That is why Iran has called for a United Nations Security Council meeting on Israel’s actions in Lebanon and elsewhere in the region. Iran warning against any attacks on its diplomatic facilities and representatives shows it is scared. This utter fright was further strengthened with last week’s news that the Iranian Supreme Leader went into hiding immediately after Nasrallah was killed in an air strike. The words of Iran’s UN ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, written to the 15-member Council are ominous, indeed, as he stated Iran will not hesitate to exercise its inherent rights under international law to take every measure “in defence of its vital national and security interests.” This is the language of imminent war. The situation seems to be spinning out of control with reports of Israeli strikes, a day after Nasrallah’s killing, causing death to 33 people and injuries to 195 in Lebanon, according to the Lebanese health ministry. The strikes continued on Beirut’s southern suburbs.
More than 1,000 people have been killed and over 6,000 wounded as a result of Israeli attacks in the past two weeks, while about one million Lebanese have reportedly been displaced. Hezbollah said in a statement that it would continue its battle against Israel “in support of Gaza and Palestine, and in defence of Lebanon and its steadfast and honourable people.” Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said Nasrallah’s death would be avenged and his path in fighting Israel would be pursued by other militants which is a clear indication of support to a terrorist group. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed grave concern over the dramatic escalation of events. His spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, in a statement said the cycle of violence must stop now and all sides must step back from the brink. But, sadly enough, the UN has been turned into a helpless spectator in the Israel-Hezbollah-Hamas conflict. Its efforts for a ceasefire have hit the wall. Its credibility as a world organization for peace has come under question when it comes to handling big powers or their allies. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the inability of the UN to take concrete steps was a clear indication of the emasculation of that body of nations.
