Israel and Hezbollah teeter toward war
Hezbollah rocket attacks on Sunday sparked wildfires in northern Israel
![Israeli firefighter puts out blaze started by Hezbollah rockets](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oSPNTBTf6XCai2uqyt37VU-415-80.jpg)
What happened
"Israel and Hezbollah are moving closer to a full-scale war after months of escalating hostilities with the Lebanese militant group," The Wall Street Journal said Wednesday, even as the Biden administration is lobbying Arab countries to pressure Hamas to agree to an Israeli cease-fire deal in Gaza. Hezbollah rocket attacks on Sunday sparked wildfires in northern Israel.
Who said what
"They are burning here, we need to burn all of Hezbollah's strongholds and destroy them. War!" said Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, one of two far-right Cabinet ministers who vowed to bring down Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government if he agreed to the peace deal with Hamas. Many of the 60,000 Israelis forced to evacuate after Hezbollah began firing rockets "see a cease-fire in Gaza as the key to calming the situation in the north" so they can return home, the BBC said.
What next?
Israel's government "has been keen to contain this conflict on its northern border, aware that Hezbollah is a better-trained and better-equipped enemy than Hamas," the BBC said. "But the fires have put this grinding forgotten conflict squarely on the front pages," pressuring Netanyahu to act.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
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.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
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
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
What is capital gains tax and how to reduce your bill
The Explainer There are fears that a future Labour government could hike the levy
By Marc Shoffman, The Week UK Published
-
Today's political cartoons - June 19, 2024
Cartoons Wednesday's cartoons - the ostrich problem, Biden's thing, and more
By The Week US Published
-
House of the Dragon: 'finally the show it was always meant to be'
The Week Recommends A rumbling family feud unfurls into a tragic civil war
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Putin visits North Korea amid hunt for weapons
Speed Read Russian President Vladimir Putin has thanked North Korea for supporting his war in Ukraine
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine peace summit gets mixed support
Speed Read Most participants signed a statement backing Ukraine’s territorial integrity, but some key countries resisted
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden warns of more Trump Supreme Court picks
Speed Read President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama discussed the repercussions of a second Trump term at a fundraiser
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump visits GOP Capitol Hill, trashes Milwaukee
Speed Read The presidential candidate made a series of odd comments while meeting with House and Senate Republicans
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court rejects abortion pill challenge
Speed Read Access to mifepristone has been preserved, though some think it is only a temporary victory
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
G7 summit opens with Russian cash for Kyiv
Speed Read Leaders from the G7 group agreed to give Ukraine $50B backed by frozen Russian assets
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Top Sunak aide Craig Williams bet on general election date
Speed Read Parliamentary private secretary to the PM apologises for £100 'flutter' as gambling watchdog inquiry gets underway
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Haiti council appoints government to quell chaos
Speed Read The nation still grapples with violent gangs following the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published