Israel and Hezbollah Talk Down Escalation After Exchange of Strikes

Both Israel and Hezbollah indicated that they were not finished fighting each other, but both refrained from escalating the conflict further into a wider war. Northern schools have remained closed for the fall term, disappointing families who had hoped for their reopening. IDF Chief of Staff Halevi emphasized that the Gaza front remains a top priority for the military, with a focus on dismantling Hamas and securing the return of hostages. Operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon are also ongoing to weaken the group. Despite ongoing Gaza cease-fire negotiations in Cairo, recent rocket attacks did not impact the talks. The Institute for the Study of War suggested that Hezbollah’s recent attack on Israel may have been a reconnaissance mission to test defenses for future strikes by Iran or Houthi rebels. The IDF preemptively targeted a significant portion of Hezbollah’s weapons before the attack, reducing its impact. The ISW warned that further retaliations from various groups may still occur. The situation remains tense, with potential for continued violence. Could you please rephrase that?

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