A region fearing all-out war may have been taken to the brink by a legion of pagers. Israel has not claimed responsibility for the operation, but Hezbollah laid the blame squarely on its adversary, and two U.S. officials told NBC News that Israel was behind the attack. It follows months of tensions between Hezbollah and Israel since Hamas’ Oct. 7 terror attacks and Israel’s assault on the Gaza Strip. Israel announced a new war objective late Monday — the safe return of residents displaced from their homes by months of fighting with Hezbollah across the northern border with Lebanon. Israel could benefit on several different levels from such a massive and shocking operation, Horowitz said.

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Persons: Israel, Yoav Gallant, ” Michael Horowitz, Horowitz, ”, —, ” Horowitz, Mohanad Hage Ali, Malcolm H, ” Hage Ali said, What’s, “, Masoud Pezeshkian, ” Hage Ali, Ori Gordin, Washington, Ben Rhodes, Barack Obama, ” Rhodes Organizations: Hezbollah, NBC News, NBC, Israeli, U.S, Le Beck, Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center, Kremlin, Israel Defense Forces ’ Northern Command, BBC Locations: Lebanon, Beirut, Israel, Russia, Jordan, Gaza, Iran, Israeli, U.S, doesn’t