This week, members of the Iran backed militant group Hezbollah came under attack from exploding pagers and walkie talkies, with Hezbollah's Executive Council says it will respond with “special punishment" for the attacks.

Israel has not taken responsibility for the communication device attacks, but in the latest development the nation has bombed southern Lebanon and claims to have thwarted an Iran-backed assassination plot.

• Guest: Dr Matthew Levitt, Director of the Jeanette and Eli Reinhard Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence at the Washington Institute