Hezbollah: Israel’s New Nightmare!

By Abdel Bari Atwan

We do not dispute the official and popular Iranian resistance narrative and use by its military leadership of hypersonic missiles with cluster warheads weighing between one and two tons, and which penetrated most of Israel’s air defenses and destroyed its targets in the occupied Palestinian cities (Israel) in the first five weeks. These were one of the most prominent surprises of the current American-Israeli war on Iran.

However, the biggest and most unexpected surprise for many, both for Israel and the Arab environment, is this powerful resurgence of Hezbollah in Lebanon, its military wing, formidable missile and drone capabilities, and the highly efficient management of the ongoing battle by its “hawkish” leadership. This is constituting a powerful shock to the Israeli enemy, official Lebanese authorities, and the Americans.

The Hezbollah Party’s military wing, led by a young command trained in North Korea and China in the latest guerrilla warfare tactics, is waging the war with high efficiency, overseeing the launch of more than 200 rockets and drones daily. Most of these reach their targets in the Greater Tel Aviv area, much of whose cities now destroyed, and Haifa and its bay, reduced to a blazing inferno. The Hezbollah missiles are targetting settlements in the Upper and Lower Galilee, most notably Kiryat Shmona, which has become a ghost town.

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Hezbollah deceived all of its adversaries, inside and outside Lebanon, remaining steadfast, feigning restraint and flexibility, and avoiding confrontation with the state by all means. It never responded neither to the clamorous voices predicting its demise and political and military exit from the scene, nor to the killing of some of its new leaders, even after the “Pagers War” or to the provocative Israeli violations of the ceasefire, which exceeded 10,000 over the past 16 months. This was because its priorities focused on internal restructuring and rebuilding its missile and drone industries to achieve military self-sufficiency for the current major confrontation.

Data from trusted sources confirm that the party currently possesses more than 30,000 short- and medium-range missiles, thousands of Shahed and Hudhud drones, and more than one 100,000 fighters, most of whom are young men under the age of thirty.

The party’s success and precision of its missiles in exhausting the Israeli enemy and its forces and emptying the occupied Galilee of all its settlers who fled to central and southern Israel seeking safety and security, restored its prestige and broadened its popularity, both within its Shiite base and among many members of other sects, especially young people, as well as in the wider Arab and Islamic worlds.

Hezbollah destroyed at least 40 Israeli Merkava tanks, killed more than 35 Israeli soldiers, and wounded 80 others since entering the war on 4 March. This number of casualties, by the Israeli enemy’s own admission, is the same as their numbers during the 12-day war last June.

We do not believe the Israeli leaks circulated by some Lebanese circles, whether in their media outlets and/ or on social media platforms, claiming the existence of three wings within Hezbollah: First, the moderate wing, which wants to avoid confrontation with the state; second, the “doves,” who do not object to linking disarmament to Israeli withdrawal and reconstruction; and third, the “hawks,” united behind its military leadership, which believes in the option of resistance, maintaining and developing weapons until the liberation of all Lebanese and Arab lands.

The upper hand now belongs to the “hawks,” around whom everyone rallies, and who have absolutely no trust in the capitulating state, nor in America and the Western world in general, who have starved the Lebanese people, supported the Israeli occupation and all its crimes in displacing more than 1 million Lebanese from the south, seized the border strip south of the Litani River, and whose planes have not ceased bombing the southern suburbs of Beirut, Bekaa Valley, and cities and neighborhoods that support the resistance.

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We urge those who focus solely on Israel’s theatrical assassinations in Lebanon—and which are clearly part of a psychological warfare campaign—to reconsider and focus on stamping out intelligence breaches, to cease promoting Israeli plans and instead see the other side of the cup: The significant losses inflicted deep inside Israel, even reaching settlements around Gaza Strip in the far south. This war is still in its early stages, specifically its first month, and more than seven million settlers are living in shelters and tunnels day and night, terrified of Lebanese, Iranian, and Yemeni missiles.

Sheikh Naim Qassem, Secretary-General of Hezbollah, hit the nail on the head when he said that Israel poses an existential threat to everyone in Lebanon and beyond. Therefore, the resistance war must continue until this threat is eradicated. Hezbollah’s patience has its limits; it is not unlimited.

No pagers, no smartphones, no announcement of the names of the new leaders, and the party has returned to its early beginnings, which is equivalent to carrier pigeons, direct communication, smart ambushes, limited-number cells, and finally, patience and fighting until victory, which is imminent, God willing… and the days will tell.

This comment by Chief Editor of Abdel Bari Atwan of Al Rai Al Youm was translated from Arabic and published in crossfirearabia.com

CrossFireArabia

Dr. Marwan Asmar holds a PhD from Leeds University and is a freelance writer specializing on the Middle East. He has worked as a journalist since the early 1990s in Jordan and the Gulf countries, and been widely published, including at Albawaba, Gulf News, Al Ghad, World Press Review and others.

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Limited Iran Strike: Concept and International Dimensions

CrossFireArabia
June 14, 2026

By Dr. Samira Bitam

In the race for global dominance, America, as always, is committed to playing the political game as the world’s policeman. It believes it has the right to manage its diplomatic and economic affairs in a way that secures its leading position, regardless of whether the targeted country has a legitimate defense or the pretext used to launch its strikes. The objective is paramount, and the target, often due to its nuclear advancements, is seen as an obstacle to America’s complete dominance.

The crucial question remains: What are the future implications of a new world order that will differ from its predecessor in both the number of poles and the size of the participating countries in alliances? Everyone is vigilant and eager to secure a piece of the global pie, aiming to maintain international standing, security, and open, free competition, all in pursuit of economic strength and astute policy.

In reality, Iran has never been an enemy of America, but the USA considers it its strongest competitor due to its possession of nuclear weapons—the same weapons possessed by Pakistan, Russia, North Korea, and others. Iran is currently under American scrutiny, and there has been, and continues to be, talk of a limited strike. In the language of politics, every word has a hidden meaning that cannot be understood superficially. “Limited” could refer to a small strike, perhaps targeting a sensitive location, or it could be a verbal threat indicating America’s seriousness about launching an attack on Iran at any moment. Caution is necessary because such attacks have international repercussions and provoke international reactions. We don’t believe America will repeat the same strike against Iran as it did against Iraq if it hasn’t carefully considered its options.

Iran possesses a silent political language that conceals the reality of its possession of weapons of mass destruction. What some newspapers publish may only represent a fraction of what remains undisclosed. For example, the “Whale” torpedo, specifically designed to destroy American warships, represents perhaps the most crucial element of a comprehensive defense system. According to Israeli estimates, the “Whale” torpedo weighs approximately 500 kilograms and operates underwater at extremely high speeds. To alleviate the burden on American aircraft carriers, Israel assesses that a single torpedo cannot destroy an aircraft carrier unless Iran employs precision operations. Israel’s concerns were evident in Netanyahu’s statement that Israel is facing difficult circumstances. This is understandable, given its gamble on redrawing the map of the Middle East, a gamble that risks failure. The international community will not remain passive, and repeated American aggression against peaceful nations will not go unpunished as before. Governments have reached a level of awareness sufficient to rise up in defense of their borders and territories. Iran will not be the only one affected, as the objective is an existential conflict that will allow Trump to secure his place in history.

The state of the Arabs today is no less lamentable than it was yesterday, when Iraq found itself mired in a sectarian war fueled by external forces, aimed at destroying its prestige and preventing any progress. America achieved its goals and plans, even though Bush, then president, implicitly admitted his mistake towards the Iraqis. The target was not a nuclear weapon, but a regime that had become a threat, leading to increased pressure on Middle Eastern countries. This occurred amidst a deliberate and even explicit fragmentation of the region, normalization of relations with certain countries, and their sponsorship of attacks like those of September 11, 2001, which targeted the World Trade Center in the United States.

America’s expenditure of dollars on the newly named Department of War will only add to its burdens. The country is already suffering from internal economic problems and social ills, issues that Trump has neglected, giving them the same attention he has devoted to his war agenda. Meanwhile, the international community is increasingly turning away from such dark policies. The Iranian episode in the global arena is being orchestrated through statements, pronouncements, and verbal sparring, all aimed at disseminating information as mere rhetoric, unreliable for uncovering the whole truth. Some weapons that Iran has not disclosed remain a mysterious enigma, threatening the stability of neighboring countries and those hosting American bases. Should America strike Iran, the entire scene would escalate into a third world war, leading to further political attrition and economic collapse. Statistics show a significant decline in maritime trade, and militias would become active on the borders of countries that have not taken a clear stance on global events. Being a friend of America does not exempt a country from being drawn into conflict, even under the flimsiest of pretexts. International law has been shaped to serve the Zionist-American vision of global hegemony, and membership in the United Nations will not alter this reality. The language of engagement today is the language of force, not negotiation and restraint. The weapons used in wars may not be limited to conventional arms; they may include biological weapons, ideological weapons, and other types that remain undisclosed until the last moment. This is because the cards of the international game are never fully revealed, and the element of surprise is always present. Every country has its own foreign policy and international stances. However, the blame lies with the Arab states that have succumbed to the aggression that devastated Gaza and destroyed its infrastructure. Every action has a reaction, and those who participated in the barbarity of the aggression against the Gaza Strip and merely condemned it will not escape the consequences of a third war, should one erupt.

Systems are not preserved through silence; rather, they collapse through their own inaction, cowardice, and humiliation. The next war, should it erupt, will bring with it many new realities that will lead to the emergence of a new world order, one that shows no mercy to the weak. The weak are those whose economies are fragile, whose people’s awareness is low, and whose workforce is neither serious nor aware of the magnitude of the stakes that await them. The world will inevitably witness a transformation that will alter perceptions, shift power dynamics, and tip the scales in favor of those who deserve it, without sentimentality or favoritism. Instead, there will be justice for just causes, because global change begins with an act of aggression and ends with a balance of power.

Opportunities.

The details of a limited strike, should it occur, will determine the new roadmap. Focusing on the initial strike will clarify the initial ambiguity before any attack.

Regardless of Trump’s aggressive reactions, whether towards the media or his opponents, his racism in some situations has been blatant. While Trump’s approach to managing affairs is troubling, it has also presented an opportunity for those working closely with him. By observing his habits and reactions, his adversaries can deduce information that allows them to manipulate or control him. Despite their success in this regard, no one can underestimate the difficulty of steering him in the same direction the following day, as Michael Wolff testifies in his book, “Fire and Fury: The Trump White House.”

Can Iran discern Trump’s seriousness from his jest if the matter concerns the outbreak of a third war, the duration and scope of which are unknown unless Trump decides to end it? Time will tell.

Dr. Samira Bitam is an Algerian writer. This is a translated version of an article she write for the Al Rai Al Youm website

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Palestinian Flag Raised Slovenia Presidential Palace

CrossFireArabia
June 12, 2026

Slovenian President Nataša Perč-Mušar raised the Palestinian flag on the presidential palace in Ljubljana, Saturday. This is a symbolic gesture following its removal from government headquarters after conservative Prime Minister Janez Janša assumed power following the March 22 elections.

In a post on the X platform, Perč-Mušar said the flag would remain flying on the front of the palace for a week before being moved inside for public display. She described the move as carrying political and moral significance regarding the Palestinian cause and international law as reported in Quds Press.

She added the Palestinian flag, in addition to its national symbolism, now reflects what she termed grave violations of international humanitarian law in Palestine and other areas, highlighting the ongoing suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

The president emphasized that “the genocide against the Palestinians has not stopped,” and the residents of Gaza and the West Bank do not live in conditions that guarantee their human dignity, considering the raising of the flag an expression of solidarity with the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

The move coincided with a rising political controversy in Slovenia surrounding allegations of foreign interference in the recent general elections, including accusations concerning the role of the Israeli intelligence firm Black Cube. But this have been denied by relevant political figures in the country.

The government of former Prime Minister Robert Golbow had officially recognized the State of Palestine in 2014 and imposed restrictions on the export, import, and transit of military equipment to and from Israel. Janša opposed these measures and called for a public referendum on them.

This comes amidst ongoing Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, which, according to available data, have resulted in hundreds of martyrs and thousands of wounded, in a war that has continued since October 2013 and has caused widespread destruction in the besieged territory.

Since October 8, 2023, Israel, with American and European support, carried out a genocide in the Gaza Strip, including killing, starvation, destruction, displacement, and arbitrary arrests, ignoring international appeals and orders from the International Court of Justice to halt its operations.

This genocide has left more than 246,000 Palestinians dead or wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 11,000 missing. In addition, hundreds of thousands have been displaced, and famine has claimed the lives of many, mostly children. Furthermore, the Gaza Strip has suffered widespread destruction, with most of its cities and towns effectively erased from the map.