Hezbollah fired a barrage of more than 100 rockets at Israel’s north yesterday – with the highest concentration aimed at Meron and Kiryat Shmona.
Nasrallah gave a speech earlier today in which he claimed that yesterday’s barrage was the beginning of a series of renewed missile attacks that will hit towns not currently being aimed at. Nasrallah said, “Our response last night, with the missiles on Kiryat Shmona and other towns, shows our equation. We want to add: If you continue attacking civilians, the resistance will attack towns which have not been attacked until now.”
Hezbollah is preparing for an all-out assault by Israel as soon as the intense phase of fighting subsides in Gaza. That is expected to happen over the next few weeks. Nasrallah is hoping that Israel will back off more as it threatens or if it makes good on its promises to lure it into a war prematurely.
The North of Israel is a tinderbox. The longer Israel waits to deal with Hezbollah, the more dangerous its second front will be. While it may be advantageous to wait to attack Hezbollah, allowing Nasrallah to continue to burn down the Galilee in order to pick the timing the IDF wants, may lead to a far worse outcome.