Why we could soon see an even bloodier conflict between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah

The likelihood of such a war breaking out has been accelerated after Hezbollah fired 90 missiles into Israel this week

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Photo by Jack Guez -Pool/Getty Images)

A much more serious conflict between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah is looming, with the possibility of Prime Minister Netanyahu ordering his troops to cross the border.

For months more than 60,000 Israeli civilians have been displaced from homes the length of the northern border and on the other side around 100,000 Lebanese have evacuated.

Whether Netanyahu will give such an order remains to be seen but whilst the Gaza war is not still unresolved such an escalation is likely some time away.

The likelihood of such a war breaking out has been accelerated after Hezbollah fired 90 missiles into Israel this week in response to the killing of a very senior Hezbollah leader.

Israel has been dismantling Hezbollah’s leadership in targeted attacks for months, perhaps in a bid to soften the group’s ability to attack whilst the Gaza war is ongoing.

Taleb Sami Abdullah, 55, who was known within Hezbollah as Hajj Abu Taleb, was the most senior commander killed since fighting began eight months ago.