Hezbollah Is Only One Death Away From Fighting Israel Completely

JAKARTA - Tensions have risen along Israel's borders with Syria and Lebanon, following the death of Lebanese Hezbollah fighters in an Israeli offensive on the edge of Damascus last week. The Hezbollah elite in Lebanon have spoken of a potential major war with Israel.

Sunday, July 27, an Israeli military spokesman reported the downing of an Israeli drone inside Lebanon. The plane is part of a long Israeli operation along the border.

In recent months, Israel has stepped up attacks against Syria. Intelligence in the West called the attack a shadow war that Washington approved.

The aim of the attack is to undermine Iran's military strength in the region without triggering a major increase in hostilities with neighboring countries. Hezbollah itself has deployed its fighters in Syria.

Together with Iranian forces, they supported the rule of President Bashar al-Assad in the conflict that sparked protests against his rule in 2011. According to intelligence information, the bases that were the target of Israeli attacks in eastern, central and southern Syria are believed to have strong support by Iran.

Analysts say Hezbollah and Israel want to avoid an all-out conflict. That view was reinforced by the statement of Sheikh Naim Qassem, in an interview with the pro-Damascus al Mayadeen television station.

Qassem said that for everything that had happened, his party did not see the potential for a major war as predicted by many. "The atmosphere does not indicate war. It is not possible. The atmosphere of war in the next few months," he said, quoted by Reuters on Monday, July 27.

Qassem alluded to the rules of engagement drawn up since the Iranian movement in Syria occurred. "No change to the rules of engagement and deterrence equality with Israel exists and we do not plan to change that," Qassem said.

Although Qassem said so, friction between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon has been occurring in recent times. The two sides are holding back in scorching conditions after Lebanese Hezbollah fighters were killed in Irael's attack on the edge of Damascus last week.

Finally, Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah declared an ultimatum to Israel. The deaths of their fighters will be the last, said Sayed Hassan. If Israel kills one more fighter, Hezbollah vows its full retribution.

Since that death, Israel has increased its patrols on the border between Syria and Lebanon, until their drone crashed in Lebanese territory on Sunday, July 27.