Hezbollah Preempts Israeli Preemption

Amid speculations of a planned Israeli attack on Hezbollah, the Party Of God conducted large military trainings to raise the stakes for Israel.

According to Al-akhbar, a newspaper close to Hezbollah, the party has conducted its largest military drill to date under the personal supervision of Nassrallah. The report has quickly been echoed in the Israeli Media, of course without Al-akhbar’s propaganda touches, like how the UNIFIL were “shocked at the unexpected effectiveness of the resistance’s abilities”.

Hezbollah’s source told Al-Akhbar that the drills were designed to prevent a war and to show Israel that an “adventure” won’t be a cake-walk. Hezbollah’s deterrence tactic has always been disputed in Lebanon, with some like the March 14 majority arguing that to the contrary, wild displays of firepower only encourage attacks from Israel, not prevent them.

Hezbollah could also be bluffing, and the target of this drill could really be the Israeli people, who by reading that Hezbollah have missiles that could reach anywhere in Israel, as Al-Akhbar made sure to stress, could try to put pressure on its government to stop planning for attacks. 

It’s Olmert’s turn now. Will he raise or fold?

**Update** 

Both the Seniora government and UNIFIL are denying Al-akhbar’s claim. Can you hear that loud bluffing noise?