Escalation ripples through Middle East

To be sure, he doesn't expect Israel will reoccupy parts of Lebanon. "I have great doubt that Israel can achieve its very ambitious goal because Hizbullah is a very strong Lebanese player with a strong foothold in the south of Lebanon and in the capital.... I believe many players in the region and in the international community will oppose a full-fledged Israeli war in Lebanon that could totally destabilize the whole of the region."

However, there are some indicators of tolerance among the US and other Western powers for an extended Israeli assault, with two diplomats saying Israel won goodwill for its withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000 and that its need to protect its borders is reasonable.

"We recognize that Israel has made a lot of progress in the north and secondly the international community understands the problems caused by militias for Lebanese internal stability and the stability of the region," says a European Union diplomat, who asked that his name not be used.

Also speaking on background, one EU official said Israel's unilateral withdrawal from southern Lebanon six years ago, and UN Resolution 1559 that called for the disarming of Lebanon's militias and for the country's military to control its southern region, made it impossible to justify Hizbullah's attacks.

While Western powers may have more sympathy for Israel this time around, the lopsided human toll on Palestinian and Lebanese civilians is getting heavy play on Arab satellite channels, with growing complaints of collective punishment tactics.

On Thursday, Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon killed at least 55 civilians. On the Israeli side, more than 100 rockets slammed into northern towns, killing at least one woman and injuring dozens more. Late Thursday a rocket from Lebanon hit the port city Haifa. An Israeli army spokesman said it was fired by Hizbullah militants.

Hizbullah is backed by both Syria and Iran, as is Hamas. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is already locked in a confrontation with the US over his country's nuclear program, and has repeatedly spoken of his desire to see the Israeli state destroyed. Iran has frequently used its support of both Hamas and Hizbullah to bolster its own prestige and influence.

In Iraq, militant Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who has growing ties to Iran and has a powerful militia that has fought US forces here and been accused of carrying out sectarian killings, is a possible concern.

He has ties to Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was a student of Mr. Sadr's deceased uncle.

In 2004, he told Hizbullah's Al Manar TV of his "solidarity" with both Mr. Nasrallah and Hamas, and asked both groups to "consider me their striking hand in Iraq whenever the need arises ... Iraq and Palestine have the same destiny."

To be sure, in recent months Sadr has toned down his militant rhetoric as members of his political movement have joined the government, and he has yet to make a statement on the recent fighting.

Who is Hizbullah?

• Hizbullah is a militant Shiite Muslim group formed in the 1980s during Lebanon's civil war. It gained popularity by fighting Israeli forces and offering broad social services. Today it is a powerful militia controlling much of southern Lebanon, and it holds seats in the Lebanese parliament.

• The group follows a strict brand of Shiite Islam and opposes Western influence.

• At its founding the group's main focus was to drive Israeli forces from Lebanon.

• It is widely believed to receive financial and military support from both Iran and Syria.

Who is Hamas?

• Hamas is a militant Sunni Muslim group and leader of violent Palestinian opposition to Israel. Growing out of the fundamentalist movement in the Palestinian territories, it gathered strength through the 1990s.

• In an election upset this year, Hamas became the ruling Palestinian power.

• Hamas is dedicated to the elimination of Israel.

• Hamas is supported by many in the majority-Sunni Middle East.

Source: Political Handbook of the World

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