As in Gaza, the Israeli bombing campaign in Lebanon is unlikely to lead to a quick resolution. “The footage on Monday [Sept. 23] of Israeli strikes sending up plumes of dust and smoke seemed grimly familiar,” reported AP. “The American-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, the NATO campaign in Libya in 2011, and the U.S.-led war against the Islamic State group in 2014 all began with massive airstrikes lighting up the sky. In each case, the war dragged on for months or years, and ground forces played a crucial role.”
“Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza began with nearly three weeks of heavy airstrikes across the territory, followed by a full-scale ground invasion. Nearly a year later, Hamas is still putting up a fight and holding scores of hostages.
“With Hezbollah, Israel has so far adopted narrower objectives—not the disarmament or defeat of the Lebanese militant group, but a new arrangement in which militants retreat from the border and halt their attacks.
