Ismail Haniya, the political leader of Hamas, and Fuad Shukr, the number two of the Lebanese militia Hezbollah, were killed a month ago within hours of each other. Haniya died in Tehran, Iran, and Shukr died in Beirut, Lebanon, both in Israeli army bombings. In response to this, Western countries are expecting harsh retaliation from Iran – the supporter of both fundamentalist organizations – who has already announced a “harsh punishment” against Israel. Meanwhile, countries in the Middle East are on edge, especially Lebanon, as they await a possible escalation of the conflict. The exchange of fire between Hezbollah and Israel has been constant, with the Spanish Army monitoring the situation as part of the UN peacekeeping mission.
The head of the Army’s Operations Command, Lieutenant General José Antonio Agüero Martínez, recently visited the Spanish contingent deployed in southern Lebanon as part of the UN peacekeeping mission. He highlighted how the war in Gaza has drastically changed the situation in the region, with violent incidents becoming more frequent. Agüero emphasized the constant exchange of fire as a result of the conflict, stating that this recent visit was his first mission abroad since being appointed the head of operations a month ago. The current situation has increased tension and necessitated heightened vigilance among the troops deployed in the area.
Despite the tense atmosphere and being caught in the crossfire between Israel and Hezbollah, Agüero assured that the soldiers serving in UNIFIL are not the main target of the conflict. He anticipates that their mandate, currently halfway through, will likely be renewed with the agreement of all parties involved. While there may appear to be a sense of normalcy, Agüero mentioned that alarms are frequent and that Spanish troops, particularly the sappers, are focusing on fortifying their bases. The Spanish Defense Minister, Margarita Robles, has expressed the complexity of the situation and the measures being taken to ensure the safety of the Spanish contingent amidst ongoing attacks.
The Minister did not travel with Agüero to Lebanon due to security reasons but has emphasized the challenging nature of the situation. Following 11 months of attacks and over 40,000 casualties in Gaza as a result of Israeli airstrikes in response to the actions of Hamas, tensions remain high in the region. Agüero’s recent visit shed light on the ongoing conflicts in the area and the continued need for vigilance and fortification. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely as they prepare for any potential escalation of violence and seek to maintain peace in the region.
