On Thursday night they hit a building in Beirut’s Bachoura neighbourhood, killing 22 and injuring 117 people according to the Lebanese health ministry.
As the Israeli war effort has expanded, its government has dropped talk of “limited” operations.
On Wednesday, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, called on Lebanese civilians to either rise up against Hezbollah or face “a long war that will lead to destruction and suffering like we see in Gaza.”
Hezbollah
Hezbollah, too, appears to be preparing for a long war. Reports from the front suggest its fighters have generally opted to retreat after making contact with the IDF, rather than staying to fight.
We do not know how many Hezbollah fighters are available to the group or are operating in the area. But the group is certainly not at full strength.
It has lost its long-time leader Hassan Nasrallah, several of his deputies, and most of its senior military commanders in targeted Israeli airstrikes.
Israel’s massive pager-booby-trapping operation wounded dozens and is believed to have wounded thousands more mid-level officers.
Israel claimed airstrikes in the days leading up to the ground operation destroyed dozens, perhaps hundreds of rocket launchers. Footage from some airstrikes has shown secondary explosions that suggest the Israelis managed to hit large arms stockpiles.
But it is still in the fight.