Israel and Hezbollah on the Brink of Wider War

Following the death of Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut, Hezbollah has fired rockets into Israel, marking an unsettling escalation in tensions between the two parties. The Israeli defense establishment had anticipated the potential for a measured response from Hezbollah, signaling an unwillingness on the part of Iran and the militant organization to engage in a full-blown war. Concurrently, the German government has urged Israel to implement more humanitarian pauses in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. In a separate development, footage has emerged purportedly showing an Israeli Air Force helicopter downing a Hezbollah drone over northern Israel. These events have compounded fears of an impending military confrontation, highlighting the urgency of de-escalation efforts.