Seven. That’s how many times Israel has invaded Lebanon since 1978, yet this latest incursion could prove the most momentous of all. Unlike previous assaults, changes inside Lebanon itself mean the IDF could finally achieve a long-cherished goal: the crushing of Hezbollah and a political realignment in Beirut that removes future threats to Israel’s security. That, in turn, could shift the balance of power right across the Levant, extending Israel’s influence, and Benjamin Netanyahu’s political legacy, yet further. Still, as always in the Middle East, what happens when the dust settles is a very different question, as is its impact on the lives of innocent civilians — especially when the Lebanese are unlikely to accept Israeli domination for long.
