On the brink Both sides are holding back, but for how long?

If Israel and Hezbollah wanted an all-out war it would have happened a long time ago.

- Julian Borger

Each side would welcome the destruction of the other, but the time has not been right so far for either to plunge into a full-scale conflict.

The intense exchange of hostilities across the IsraelLebanese border yesterday once more took the parties to the brink of such a war, but once again they paused and pulled back.

In terms of munitions expended, it was the biggest engagement for many months. Israel put 100 jet fighters in the air who conducted sorties over seven hours and struck more than 40 sites with missiles, but killed only three people.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were clearly taking far more care over civilian casualties in Lebanon than they have in Gaza. While Israel insists it will fight until Hamas is completely obliterated, its foreign minister, Israel Katz, stressed yesterday his government had no interest in such an existential fight with Hezbollah.

According to its own version of events, Hezbollah launched 320 rockets and a large number of drones yesterday morning, but caused only a small handful of injuries. The Lebanese Shia militia claimed nonetheless to have achieved its aims, to avenge a commander killed by Israel last month. Its spokesperson stretched credulity by claiming its plans had not been affected in any way by the earlier Israeli airstrikes, but the aim of the message was clear - to draw a line under the day's hostilities and reduce pressure on Hezbollah to keep the battle going.