By Athena Papakosta

Despite warnings of the risk of a more nightmarish flare-up that could plunge the Middle East into an all-out war, Israel seems to prefer to turn a deaf ear and pursue the military rather than diplomatic route.

The decision to land invasion is a fact. As of early Monday afternoon it became known that Israel had informed the United States of its plans and the clock began to count down until on Monday evening the Israeli military began carrying out land raids against Hezbollah.

The images which had preceded the Israeli-Lebanon border in the last three days were indicative. Tanks were being assembled and reserves had been mobilized, and statements from both the political and military leadership were clear, even after Hassan Nasrallah had been killed. “Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah is not over,” they emphasized.

The Iranian-backed Shiite group vows to fight back, and its deputy leader, Naim Qassem, says Hezbollah is ready.

“Victory is ours,” he said, recalling that despite the fact that, in recent weeks, Hezbollah’s administrative leadership has been decapitated, the organization has not been defeated.

The core of its power is its base with its thousands of hardened members but also its powerful arsenal, which makes it the most heavily armed non-state entity. This includes precision missiles that would allow it to strike deep inside Israeli territory. The question, however, remains whether Hezbollah can – given the circumstances – mount a well-coordinated response.

The next chapter has already begun to be written. Israel’s Security Council concluded its meeting shortly after midnight and gave the go-ahead for the start of the next phase of the war.

The border area in northern Israel that includes the communities of Metula, Mishgav Am and Kfar Qila was declared a “no military zone” and Israeli army artillery, backed by the Israeli air force, began striking inside Lebanese territory in the south part of the country.

Heavy shelling was taking place along the border in the area north of the Israeli city of Kiryat Shmona, while the Lebanese towns of Marzayoun and Qiyam and the settlement of Al Wazani were hit.

The forces of the Lebanese army, according to a Lebanese security source who spoke to Reuters, retreated from the positions along the southern border of Lebanon at a distance of at least five kilometers.

At the same time, the capital Beirut was rocked by heavy shelling from Israeli warplanes, with the night sky turning orange and explosion after explosion in the Hezbollah stronghold of Dahiya.

“The elimination of Nasrallah is a very important step, but it is not everything. We will use all the possibilities we have”, were the words of the Minister of Defense of Israel, Yoav Galand, early Monday afternoon in which he announced the ground attack in Lebanon, while today at dawn the Israeli Armed Forces (IDF) also issued a related communique.

“As provided for by a decision of the (Israeli) political leadership, a few hours ago the IDF began limited, localized and targeted raids, based on specific intelligence, against Hezbollah terrorist targets and infrastructure in southern Lebanon.”

For his part, the president of the United States, responding to reporters regarding Israel’s operations, pointed out that “I feel comfortable with them stopping (…) They should stop now.”

But Israel believes that the momentum is in its favor. Analysts, however, recall what history has taught, that -namely- the invasion of troops in Lebanon is one thing, but their withdrawal is a completely different matter and the fear of a generalized conflict is present.