It was not clear if the attack had killed its target, the presumed successor to Hezbollah’s slain leader. In Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatened further attacks on Israel. At the White House, President Biden suggested Israel should consider alternatives to striking Iranian oil facilities.The New York Times reports that on Oct. 4, 2024 at 5:22 p.m. ET, Israel’s overnight bombardment of a Hezbollah stronghold near Beirut and the expansion of their ground invasion in Lebanon’s south have signaled a new phase in the ongoing conflict. It is clear that Israel is escalating their fight against Hezbollah to a larger scale.

During the overnight attack, Israeli warplanes targeted Hashem Safieddine, the presumed successor of Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was assassinated by Israel just a week prior. It is uncertain if Safieddine was killed in the strike, but the aftermath left the Dahiya, a densely populated area, in ruins.

In addition to targeting Hezbollah’s leadership, Israel is also increasing their ground operations in southern Lebanon to stop rocket fire into northern Israel. As of Friday, 87 Lebanese communities have been ordered to evacuate by Israel.

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has been ongoing for nearly a year, with Hezbollah firing on northern Israel in solidarity with their ally Hamas. However, it appears that Israel is now prepared for a full-fledged war with the militant and political group, a scenario that has long been feared and expected in the region.

There are also growing concerns that Iran, Hezbollah’s backer, could become more directly involved in the conflict. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned on Friday of further strikes against Israel if necessary, and praised the Oct. 7 attacks as “logical.” However, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, was in Beirut at the same time, indicating their willingness to support a joint cease-fire in Lebanon and Gaza.

President Biden also made a surprise appearance at the White House briefing room on Friday, where he was asked about his suggestion that the U.S. may support Israeli strikes on Iranian oil facilities. He clarified that the U.S. is not involved in any military action and is focused on finding a diplomatic solution to the conflict. 

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