The confrontation between Hezbollah and Israel is no longer confined to rockets and military operations. It is also being fought through language, symbolism, and carefully chosen messages aimed at both the enemy and the public.

Hezbollah recently announced the launch of military operations under the name “The Consumed Chaff.” The phrase comes from the Qur’anic Surah Al-Fil, which recounts the story of Abraha’s army that marched on Mecca and was destroyed by divine intervention, becoming “like consumed chaff” dry leaves torn apart after being eaten or crushed.

In Arab cultural and religious understanding, the expression symbolizes total defeat and destruction of the enemy. By choosing this name, Hezbollah is signaling strength and suggesting that its attacks could inflict heavy losses on Israel.

Israel responded not only militarily but also symbolically. The Israeli army published a message in Arabic, using the phrase “measure for measure.”

The expression originates from an old unit used to measure grains. In everyday language, however, it means responding to an action with an equal or stronger reaction essentially, retaliation in kind.

In its message, the Israeli army said:

“Hezbollah launched ‘Consumed Chaff,’ and we will respond measure for measure. If Hezbollah feeds on the illusions of chaff, it should know that the reality on the ground proves that the strikes of the Defense Army return measure for measure.”

The exchange of symbolic messages came after Israeli army radio reported that Hezbollah fired about 100 rockets simultaneously, describing it as the largest attack since the start of the war.

As the fighting intensifies on the ground, the battle of language and symbolism is also escalating reflecting a psychological and media war running parallel to the military confrontation.