On the sidelines, Hezbollah looms large over Gaza battle

Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah militant group has stayed out of the fighting between Israel and Hamas

BEIRUT -- Ever since their last war in 2006, Israel and Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah militia have constantly warned that a new round between them is inevitable. Yet once again, a potential trigger has gone unpulled. Hezbollah’s shadow loomed large during Israel and Hamas’ two-week battle, with the possibility it could unleash its arsenal of missiles - far more powerful than Hamas’ - in support of the Palestinians. Instead, Hezbollah stayed on the sidelines. And if a ceasefire called late Thursday holds, another Israel-Hamas war will have ended without Hezbollah intervention. For now, both sides had compelling reasons not to clash, including - for Hezbollah - the bitter memory of Israel’s punishing 2006 bombing campaign that turned its strongholds in Lebanon to rubble. Lebanon is also in the grips of an economic and financial collapse unparalleled in its modern history and can ill afford another massive confrontation with Israel.