A war, but not before the Pope’s visit.
In Lebanon, rumours are circulating about a possible military escalation after the pontiff’s inaugural trip, during which, the joke says, he would offer his final blessing before Israel unleashes its firepower on the country.
Escalating strikes on southern Lebanon in recent weeks, coupled with increasingly aggressive Israeli rhetoric, have left many Lebanese anxious over the prospect of a full-scale war, nearly a year since a shaky ceasefire was supposed to end 13 months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, which had culminated in two months of open war.
Israel has accused Hezbollah, whose military capabilities were greatly damaged by Israel’s ground and air campaign, of rearming. It has signalled that it could step up operations in Lebanon, with Defence Minister Israel Katz warning on November 2 that “maximum enforcement will continue, and even intensify".
Four days later, Israel carried out a wide wave of strikes after issuing eviction orders for five villages in southern Lebanon. Over the past year, Israel has conducted near-daily strikes in violation of the ceasefire, claiming to be targeting Hezbollah positions, but has rarely issued eviction orders since the truce.
The bombing notices, posted on the Israeli army’s
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