Israel’s attack on Hezbollah’s communication devices raised expectations of a decisive shift in their war of attrition. Instead, the fighting has returned to a standoff.

Hezbollah admits Israel dealt a severe blow with exploding pagers and walkie talkies, but neither side seems to heed U.S. calls to avoid a wider war.

Hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah have seen a swing. However, since Tuesday, tensions have escalated after the Lebanon-based militant group alleged that the Jewish nation was responsible for exploding devices,