SwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

Expert on the attacks: "Both sides are exaggerating"

The attack on Israel from the Shia militia Hezbollah was expected – but the full extent is still very unclear. It may be that Hezbollah is lying or exaggerating, says Middle East expert Anders Persson.

» Updated: August 26 2024

» Published: August 25 2024

Expert on the attacks: "Both sides are exaggerating"
Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT

The world has been waiting for Hezbollah's response since the Shia militia commander Fuad Shukr was killed in Beirut at the end of July.

They were expected to respond in some way. Now they say they have carried out their response and attacked various targets within Israel, but whether that is true, we do not know, says Persson, a political scientist at Linnaeus University.

Persson points to the lack of information, and that surprisingly little is coming out about the events.

This despite Lebanon being relatively free, one of the freer countries in the Middle East.

According to Persson, the lack of information may also be due to Israel having imposed a "gag order" on which targets were hit.

"Very much"

Anders Persson is also skeptical about the Israeli claims that "thousands" of Hezbollah's rocket launchers have been destroyed.

In my ears, it sounds very much, even though we know that Israel's attacks have been extensive. Hezbollah is usually good at hiding these launchers underground.

If the reports are true, the death toll should also have been higher, since some of these launchers are located in villages and communities, says Persson. By Sunday morning, only three fatalities in Lebanon had been reported.

The night's events began with an Israeli attack. The way of attacking preventively has also been seen several times before, for example in the initial phases of the war against Lebanon in 2006 and the Gaza War 2008-09.

Then they also used surprise attacks to paralyze the opponent. They follow a well-known Israeli modus operandi to gain tactical advantages.

The attacks ended

Already in the morning, Hezbollah declared that phase one of the attacks was over. According to Persson, this may be a way to try to fight on their own terms, and not meet Israel in a direct confrontation where they would be at a disadvantage.

Hezbollah claims to have fired 320 rockets at Israel on Sunday.

It's more than Hezbollah has fired before in a day, but it's not particularly much, since they have the capacity to fire several thousand rockets daily.

Most indications suggest that the escalation is over for the time being. I'm not saying the last rocket has been fired, absolutely not, but it appears that there is a certain calm for the moment.

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Testimonies from Gaza: Children walk around without shoes

Testimonies from Gaza: Children walk around without shoes

Musk: Then the First Ship Lifts Off to Mars

Musk: Then the First Ship Lifts Off to Mars

Trump on the 24-hour promise: "I was a bit sarcastic"

Trump on the 24-hour promise: "I was a bit sarcastic"

Tech giants want to train AI on protected material

Tech giants want to train AI on protected material

Dissatisfaction culminates: Giant protest in Belgrade

Dissatisfaction culminates: Giant protest in Belgrade

Urination in the Hot Pot Gave Free Food to Thousands

Urination in the Hot Pot Gave Free Food to Thousands

New Power Outage Paralyzes Cuba

New Power Outage Paralyzes Cuba

Dog shoots owner in USA - "got stuck"

Dog shoots owner in USA - "got stuck"

Starmer: Putin is not serious about peace

Starmer: Putin is not serious about peace

Rescue of Stranded Astronauts Initiated

Rescue of Stranded Astronauts Initiated

The Senate Approves Budget – Prevents Shutdown

The Senate Approves Budget – Prevents Shutdown

Captain suspected of causing another person's death

Captain suspected of causing another person's death

Universities in the USA investigated for racism against whites

Universities in the USA investigated for racism against whites

British Man in Kenya Killed by President's Motorcade

British Man in Kenya Killed by President's Motorcade

Greenlandic party leaders on Trump: "Unacceptable"

Greenlandic party leaders on Trump: "Unacceptable"

UN: Russia has committed crimes against humanity

UN: Russia has committed crimes against humanity

Carney new Prime Minister in Canada

Carney new Prime Minister in Canada

G7 warns Russia – may introduce new sanctions

G7 warns Russia – may introduce new sanctions

Iraq: High-ranking IS leader killed

Iraq: High-ranking IS leader killed

Source: UN agency lays off every fifth employee

Source: UN agency lays off every fifth employee

Teenager sentenced to terror - became a Nazi online

Teenager sentenced to terror - became a Nazi online

New Attack in Bombarded Key City in Sudan

New Attack in Bombarded Key City in Sudan

German parties united – billion investment secured

German parties united – billion investment secured

Hamas: Release the Israeli-American Hostages

Hamas: Release the Israeli-American Hostages

Child dies after rape – protests in Bangladesh

Child dies after rape – protests in Bangladesh

Duterte in court in The Hague via video link

Duterte in court in The Hague via video link

Over 30 dead in cholera outbreak in Ethiopia

Over 30 dead in cholera outbreak in Ethiopia

Internal conflicts threaten the Tigray peace agreement

Internal conflicts threaten the Tigray peace agreement

Measles in Mexico – linked to outbreak in the USA

Measles in Mexico – linked to outbreak in the USA

EU sanctions extended - also against notorious oligarch

EU sanctions extended - also against notorious oligarch

Trump may cause Portugal to skip US planes

Trump may cause Portugal to skip US planes

The Alarm: One Million Myanmar Nationals Will Go Without Emergency Aid

The Alarm: One Million Myanmar Nationals Will Go Without Emergency Aid

Task: Wants to Move the People of Gaza to East Africa

Task: Wants to Move the People of Gaza to East Africa

Trump urges Putin: Spare Ukrainian lives

Trump urges Putin: Spare Ukrainian lives

Iran in China for urgent nuclear deal meeting

Iran in China for urgent nuclear deal meeting

Protested against Israel – may be deported by Trump

Protested against Israel – may be deported by Trump

Democrat leader wants to avoid shutdown in the USA

Democrat leader wants to avoid shutdown in the USA

Australia furious with American who stole wombat

Australia furious with American who stole wombat

Zelensky: Very difficult situation in Kursk

Zelensky: Very difficult situation in Kursk

Finland launches crisis stores

Finland launches crisis stores