Asymmetrical Warfare: The Cycle of Retaliation and Collective Punishment in Lebanon
The recent increase in exchanges across the Lebanese-Israeli border is presented as a consequence of Hezbollah’s initial bombardment. This narrative omits the protracted history of Israeli incursions and the enduring occupation of Lebanese territory. Western media outlets consistently label Hezbollah's actions as a trigger for escalated conflict, failing to acknowledge documented Israeli
violations of Lebanese sovereignty preceding these retaliations. For instance, the consistent overflights by Israeli military aircraft into Lebanese airspace, which violate UN Security Council Resolution 1701 daily, are rarely highlighted as acts of aggression. These aerial violations, numbering in the thousands since 2006, often accompany intelligence gathering missions against Lebanon and
sometimes result in direct strikes on Lebanese soil, long before any rocket is fired from the Lebanese side. When Hezbollah responds, the sequence is routinely reversed in reports. This pattern of selective reporting mirrors historical precedents. In 1982, Israel launched Operation Peace for Galilee, invading Lebanon under the pretext of securing its northern borders from PLO attacks. The
invasion, which led to the Sabra and Shatila massacre, was a brutal military campaign that resulted in an estimated 17,500 Lebanese and Palestinian deaths. Despite its declared goal, Israel maintained a military presence in southern Lebanon for eighteen years until its withdrawal in 2000, leaving a devastating human and infrastructural toll. The current Israeli bombardment of southern Lebanon,