Hezbollah Commander Killed In Airstrike As Tensions Remain Elevated

A number of outlets now reporting that an airstrike in southern Lebanese village of Khirbat Salem has killed senior Hezbollah commander Jawad al-Tawil. The Jersualem Post reports that al-Tawil, a deputy commander of the elite 'Radwan force', was appointed to the position just weeks ago.

• The strike comes as the second major incident in Lebanon in recent days, following the drone strike that killed senior Hamas figure Saleh al-Arouri on 2 Jan. That attack, attributed to Israel, caused a notable uptick in tensions as Hezbollah railed against actions being carried out on Lebanese soil. However, this rhetoric fell short of launching an all-out offensive against Israel from Lebanon.
• Hezbollah leadership has appeared cautious with regards to the opening of a second front for Israel, with not only Israel but also allies such as the US warning of major repercussions should Hezbollah's actions move beyond rocket/missile/small arms fire in border areas.
• Nevertheless, the risks posed by Hezbollah potentially becoming engaged in a ground war with Israel are significant. Hezbollah is a much larger, better trained, more well-equipped fighting force than Hamas in Gaza. As such, any broader offensive involving Hezbollah and Israeli forces would risk a lengthy and attritional conflict.