Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator
On February 14, Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon killed at least seven civilians, after Hezbollah rocket fire killed an Israeli soldier.
In Souaneh, a woman was killed along with her two children. Rawaa al-Mohammed, and her two sons, Hassan Mohsen, 13, and Amir Mohsen, 2, were killed in their home.
In Aadchit, one man was killed, and 10 others were injured by Israel.
In another Israeli strike, two women, and four members of one family were killed by Israel, and none of those killed had any connection to Hezbollah.
Israeli government spokesperson Ilana Stein told Reuters, "The current reality, where tens of thousands of Israelis are displaced [in the north] and cannot return to their homes, is unbearable. They must be able to return home and live in peace and security."
Stein never mentioned the 28,000 killed in Gaza, or the 1.2 million in Rafah now awaiting planned extermination by the Israel Defense Forces.
On February 13, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned Israeli leaders, "To those who threaten us with a widening of the war: if you widen, we will too," he said, adding that "those who think the resistance might be afraid are very mistaken".
He also vowed that Hezbollah would only cease fire "when the aggression stops and there is a ceasefire in Gaza".
While the Israeli war on the people of Gaza rages on, Steven Sahiounie of MidEastDiscourse interviewed Alwan N. Amin Eddine, founder of Sita Institute, Beirut, and the author of 'Paths to War: An Analysis of International and Regional Potential Sources of Conflict', 2019.
1. Steven Sahiounie (SS): The situation between Hezbollah and Israel is very tense. In your opinion, do you see the US supporting Israel in a large air campaign to destroy Hezbollah?
Alwan N. Amin Eddine (AE): I don't see the US being able to do anything in Lebanon, especially since the US is in an election year. The US tradition for a presidential election year is one that they will not begin a major war and hand it over to a new president. Therefore, it is my opinion that the US will not enter a major war in Lebanon at this time. Of course, Hezbollah is a target for both Israel and the US, and especially after all the accusations Hezbollah has faced in the past from the US and others.
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