Will there be a new war between Israel and Hezbollah?
Old foes traded fire on Sunday after days of simmering tensions

Israel has attacked targets in southern Lebanon after Hezbollah fired several anti-tank rockets into northern Israel in retaliation for a reported Israeli drone attack in Beirut last week.
The Israel Defence Force said “two or three anti-tank missiles” were fired from southern Lebanon toward an army base and a military ambulance, with no deaths or injuries.
However, Hezbollah is quoted in local media as saying it had destroyed an Israeli tank, killing and injuring those on board.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Lt Col Jonathan Conricus said Israel had fired back with approximately 100 artillery shells and that attack helicopters had also struck the area.
The exchanges have heightened speculation that there could be a major conflict between the old foes. Haaretz reports that Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, has said Israel is ready for any scenario.
Tensions have been rising between Israel and Hezbollah, with the leader of the Shia militant group, Hassan Nasrallah, warning on Saturday that all options were open to counter Israeli drones violating Lebanon's sovereignty.
Israeli news website Ynet says the Israeli army is “readying for war with Hezbollah”.
Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert has accused Netanyahu of using military operations for political gain before the upcoming election. “It's unquestionably pure politics and prime minister Netanyahu does it unstoppably,” he said.
Accusing Netanyahu of scaremongering, he added: “He makes it look like we are standing before a horrible threat, and he steers the wheel to spare us from the threat in the North and in the South.”
It is 13 years since Israel went to war with Hezbollah. Reuters says that the month-long conflict in 2006 killed nearly 1,200 Lebanese people, mostly civilians, and 165 Israelis.
Whether the latest exchange of fire leads to a new sustained conflict remains to be seen but residents in northern Israel were sheltering in bunkers yesterday, evoking memories of the 2006 war.
The Guardian reports that Israel’s president, Reuven Rivlin, has said the country is “ready and willing to defend Israel’s citizens wherever they are, without hesitation”.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Is Prince Harry owed protection?
Talking Point The Duke of Sussex claims he has been singled out for 'unjustified and inferior treatment' over decision to withdraw round-the-clock security
By The Week UK
-
Sudoku hard: April 20, 2025
The Week's daily hard sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff
-
Codeword: April 20, 2025
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
By The Week Staff
-
Gaza: the killing of the paramedics
In the Spotlight IDF attack on ambulance convoy a reminder that it is 'still possible to be shocked by events in Gaza'
By The Week UK
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across Syria
THE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Who are the West Bank settlers?
The Explainer While all eyes are on Gaza, Israeli settlers are encroaching further onto Palestinian land in the West Bank
By The Week UK
-
Is Israel annexing Gaza?
Today's Big Question Israeli army prepares a major ground offensive and is said to have plans to 'fully occupy the territory'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
By Abby Wilson
-
Israel detains director after West Bank settler clash
speed read The director of Oscar-winning documentary 'No Other Land' was arrested and beaten
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Israel strikes Gaza, breaking ceasefire
Speed Read 326 Palestinians were killed in the first major attack since Netanyahu's government signed a ceasefire agreement with Hamas
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
By Justin Klawans, The Week US