Last Friday when a defiant Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations, he warned Iran and the Middle East that there would be further attacks if provoked.
"There is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach and that includes all of the Middle East."
That was the chilling warning. Hours later, the leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, was dead.
Nasrallah led the Lebanese Islamist militant organisation for 32 years, wreaking havoc in Lebanon and wielding more power than the government.
I spent an entire Sunday watching documentaries trying to understand this regional conflict in the Middle East and have found a common denominator in Israel's occupation of Palestine.
Hezbollah has joined the fray since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.
Since then, Israel's retaliation has seen over 40 000 Palestinians perish, mainly women and children. The small Jewish nation with big allies has turned into a treacherous killing machine.
Hezbollah expanded its influence in Southern Lebanon after driving out Israel, who had occupied the territory for 18 years. But now Lebanon is on the brink of collapse and thousands are fleeing in their droves. The death toll is upwards of 600 since the weekend and climbing.
Hezbollah is alleged to run their organisation smarter than the Italian Mafia, with massive networks all over Europe,according to the American DEA. They are at the forefront of arms and cocaine trafficking. The Houthis, a separate group from Yemen support Hezbollah.
But why can't America and the rest of its alliance partners stop these wars?
Bill Clinton did it with the Oslo Accord when he brought PLO leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister, Yitzhak Rabin together, albeit for a brief spell.
Ronald Reagan put a dead stop to Israel attacking the PLO in Southern Lebanon in 1982 with a phone call to the then Prime Minister. Barrack Obama did it twice in Gaza. Why is Joe Biden not do anything to stop these wars that are driving modern civilisation to the brink of Armageddon?
The Lebanese Foreign Minister says only Joe Biden can bring them salvation. But at what price to America, I ask?
Peace is not attainable because war is too profitable in all spheres. The political mallard, Donald Trump , and possible future president of the USA, constantly quacks about World War 3. Could this be the start of the beginning of the end?
KEVIN GOVENDER
Durban
The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
Daily News