For two decades, Hezbollah built a reputation for itself as the only group capable of taking on Israel and its occupation of Arab lands. It contended that Israel was weak, and steadfast resistance would eventually be able to take it down.
However, after Israel dealt the group a series of devastating blows by taking out its top-brass leadership, including its secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's empty bravado has been laid bare. Before that, Israel stunned the world by detonating pagers and walkie-talkies held by Hezbollah operatives, killing dozens and maiming thousands. Paranoia swept through the group as it tried to understand what happened, how it happened and the extent of its penetration into its communication network.
Before it attacked Lebanon, Israel had stunned the world with its destructive war on Gaza—a war that continues to grind on despite a year of unimaginable Palestinian suffering. Israel's brute force was also deployed further afield in Syria and Yemen in its campaign to degrade Iran's network of militias across the region.
The previously established "rules of engagement" between Hezbollah and Israel have been completely tossed out. Concern for the hostages has done little to slow down Israel's military escalation in the region, and its pursuit of control and domination over Palestinians "from the river to the sea" has only intensified.
