Hezbollah Mocked After Israeli Strikes!

In a significant military operation, the Israel Defense Force (IDF) launched its most substantial attack on Hezbollah since early October, targeting the Iranian-backed militant group in southern Lebanon. On Sunday, August 25, the Israeli Air Force deployed 100 fighter jets to strike multiple rocket and missile launchers across dozens of locations. The assault resulted in the deaths of three Hezbollah fighters.

WATCH how the IAF acted precisely today to stop a large-scale terrorist attack from Hezbollah.

Our operation in Lebanon targeted the terrorist infrastructure Hezbollah planned to use against us, protecting Israeli families and homes. pic.twitter.com/2J3sqAnFWB

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) August 25, 2024

The IDF described this operation as a preemptive move, aimed at neutralizing launchers that were poised to strike Israel imminently.

Avi Melamed, a former Israeli intelligence officer and expert on Israeli-Arab affairs, commented on the impact of the strike, stating, “Israel has been able—in a few minutes—to eliminate what Hezbollah was building for years in south Lebanon.”

Melamed also noted the reaction of Hezbollah’s leader, Nasrallah, after the strike, observing, “I listened, like many people in the region [on Aug. 25], to the speech of Hezbollah’s leader, Nasrallah. You will not be surprised to know that people in the region basically said Nasrallah was doing belly dancing. Just to keep some sort of pride after what happened yesterday. [He] tried to wipe the egg off his face and still come out as someone who made some achievements.”

In response to the Israeli airstrikes, Hezbollah retaliated by launching several hundred rockets and drones at Israel. Most of these were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system, but debris from the interceptions tragically killed an Israeli sailor. The material damage from Hezbollah’s attack was minimal, with most of it affecting a chicken coop. Despite this, Nasrallah claimed that the attack “went exactly as planned.”

My favorite Hezbollah meme today, hands down.

The group is getting ridiculed mercilessly for scoring a direct strike on a chicken coup in Israel.

I hear Nasrallah is really clucking unhappy about it. The group is crying fowl. pic.twitter.com/zgmgpV9X1f

— Jonathan Schanzer (@JSchanzer) August 25, 2024

Melamed pointed out that this claim became a source of ridicule in the Arab world. He remarked, “And that became a big mockery in the Arab world. I mean, the Arab world is mocking Hezbollah. I came across dozens of animations and cartoons that basically portray Hezbollah as the one that actually, in the end of the day, was able to kill a chicken with all its Iranian weapons.”

Following the exchange of fire, both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Nasrallah hinted that the escalation might be at an end, as neither Israel nor Hezbollah’s backer, Iran, seems eager to plunge into a broader regional conflict.

Melamed suggested that the focus might shift towards establishing a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. However, he also highlighted an “interesting dynamic” within the alliance of Hamas, Hezbollah, and their Iranian sponsors.

“To a certain extent, it came kind of like almost an ironic situation. Why ironic? Because Hamas refusing, as of now, to move forward towards a deal, in a way, holds Hezbollah and Iran as hostages,” Melamed explained. “Nasrallah said since day one, since October 8, when he began striking Israel, ‘The moment there will be a cease-fire, I will stop the shooting.’ Meanwhile, there hasn’t been a cease-fire. Hezbollah lost 440 or 450 militants, including most of its senior commanders. [On Aug. 25], it sustained a very significant slap. Let’s put it this way.”

Whether this decisive blow will pressure Hamas’ leader, Yahya Sinwar, into accepting a cease-fire deal remains uncertain. According to Melamed, Sinwar is increasingly isolated in the Arab world, with few remaining options. He also expressed doubt that any political gain Sinwar might achieve for the Palestinians could justify the heavy toll on Gaza following the October 7 attacks.