Professor Amatzia Baram, a Middle East expert at Haifa University, analyzed the events of the past 24 hours, explaining where the red line lies - which if crossed, Israel will be forced to launch a general war in the north.
Baram addressed the elimination of senior Hezbollah officers, saying that it greatly affects Nasrallah: "When Nasrallah sees that the IDF penetrates Hezbollah's nerve center - and eliminates senior officers in the organization - he knows that when a general war breaks out with Israel, he will be a target," he told Maariv.
According to Baram: "Nasrallah sees that the Israeli army is hitting quality targets, is precise, identifies individual commanders - and hits them in a pinpoint manner. He understands that when there is an escalation in the fight against Israel, the IDF knows exactly where he is - and how to attack and eliminate him. The elimination of the two commanders this week only sharpens and magnifies the message to Hezbollah commanders that they are in the IDF's sights."
Baram addressed the burning in the north by Hezbollah, saying that Israel is avoiding escalation in its responses, but if a particular red line is crossed, they won't have a choice: "In my estimation, the moment Hezbollah sends rockets to Haifa - this will be a red line and be the sign for starting a general war. Even hitting a military target after Nahariyah - this is an action which is still within the rules of the limited war game and the unwritten understandings - since this was done without intent to harm civilians."
