The Hindu Editorial (On the edge) – Aug 06, 2024

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The Hindu Editorial (On the edge) – Aug 06, 2024:

on the edge (of) (phrase) – on the brink of, on the verge of a situation; at a crucial or critical point.
the West (noun) – The Western world/civilization consisting of the majority of Europe & the North America.
rein in (phrasal verb) – to control, restrain, restrict, limit someone/something.
Hezbollah (noun) – Hezbollah is a Shiite Muslim political party and militant group based in Lebanon, where its extensive security apparatus, political organization, and social services network have fostered its reputation as “a state within a state.” Founded in the chaos of the fifteen-year Lebanese Civil War, the Iran-backed group is driven by its opposition to Israel and its resistance to Western influence in the Middle East.
Hamas (noun) – Hamas is an Islamist militant group based in Gaza.
strike (noun) – attack.
assassination (noun) – murder, killing.
tense (adjective) – on edge, edgy, nervous, strained, stressed.
Gaza (noun) – a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip. Gaza Strip is a self-governing Palestinian territory surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, Israel and Egypt.
break out (phrasal verb) – flare up, begin suddenly, start suddenly, erupt, burst out.
Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) (noun) – The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are the armed forces of Israel, comprising the Israeli army, navy, and air force. it is was established in 1948 and commonly known in Israel by its Hebrew acronym Tzahal.
exchange fire (phrase) – shoot at each other.
breach (verb) – break, contravene, violate, infringe, flout, fail to observe, fail to comply with, defy, disobey.
red line (noun) – boundary, limit.
tension (noun) – strained relations; strain, stress, pressure, unease.
heighten (verb) – increase, intensify, exacerbate, amplify, deepen, aggravate, worsen, make worse.
retaliation (noun) – revenge, vengeance, counter-attack.
bomb (verb) – attack, blow up, pound, bombard, shell.
embassy (noun) – An embassy is larger and more important than a consulate and is described as a permanent diplomatic mission, which is generally located in a country’s capital city. An embassy is responsible for representing the home country, for handling major diplomatic issues (such as negotiations), and for preserving the rights of its citizens abroad.
Damascus (proper noun) – the capital of Syria.
drone (noun) – unmanned aircraft/missile.
missile (noun) – a self-propelled/rocket-propelled weapon designed to deliver a conventional/nuclear explosive warhead with great accuracy at high speed; projectile.
cruise missile (noun) – it is a guided missile that flies with constant speed to deliver a warhead at specified target over long distance with high accuracy.
ballistic missile (noun) – a missile, which is shot from the ground, takes a long distance to travel well outside the atmosphere and falls to the earth to explode on its target (due to the gravity).
shoot down (phrasal verb) – bring down something (missile) by shooting it.
coalition (noun) – alliance, association, union, bloc, partnership.
in response to (phrase) – in relation to something, in respect of something.
unlikely (adjective) – not likely, doubtful, improbable, questionable, debatable.
ally (noun) – partner, friend, colleague.
inauguration (noun) – swearing-in, introduction, admission, initiation, induction, appointment (of someone officially to a post/office).
to be sure (phrase) – without doubt; certainly
pull off (phrasal verb) – achieve, succeed, fulfil, accomplish, bring about, perform, carry out.
sophisticated (adjective) – modern, advanced, highly developed, the latest, futuristic.
operations (noun) military operation(s), offensive, attack, manoeuvre(s), engagement.
hostile (adjective) – antagonistic, aggressive, confrontational, belligerent, combative, unfriendly.
expose (verb) – reveal, disclose, lay bare, unveil, show, display, exhibit, manifest, highlight, pinpoint.
intelligence (noun) – (military/political) information, facts, details, particulars.
vulnerability (noun) – weakness, defencelessness, unprotectedness, susceptibility.
unchecked (adjective) – unrestrained, unconstrained, uncontrolled, unrestricted, unbridled, uncontainable, rampant, runaway.
militarism (noun) – the belief or the desire of a government or a people that a state should maintain a strong military capability and to use it aggressively to expand national interests and/or values.
turn out (phrasal verb) – transpire, happen, occur, emerge, come out, end up.
counterproductive (adjective) – harmful, damaging, dangerous/destructive.
in the long run (phrase) – eventually, in the end, ultimately.
apparent (adjective) – obvious, evident, noticeable, palpable, striking, glaring.
talks (noun) – dialogue, discussion, deliberation, consultation, parley, negotiation.
hostage (noun) – a person captured or held as security for the fulfilment of certain conditions/terms.
ceasefire (noun) – a negotiated agreement that will be accompanied by other associated commitments to de-escalate the fighting; a temporary stoppage of a war, truce, armistice.
exile (noun) – banishment, expulsion, deportation; a person who lives away from his/her native country.
relatively (adverb) – comparatively, somewhat, reasonably, in a certain degree, more or less.
moderate (adjective) – non-extreme, non-radical, non-reactionary, equitable, impartial.
voice (noun) – opinion, view, attitude, feeling.
push for (phrasal verb) – pressurize, ask for, urge, force; request, demand.
take out (phrasal verb) – kill, murder, assassinate, put to death.
flagrant (adjective) – shockingly noticeable, evident, glaring, blatant, obvious, conspicuous, transparent, palpable, disgraceful.
violation (noun) – contravention, infringement, breach, breaking, lack of compliance with, non-observance, defiance.
sovereignty (noun) – independent, supreme power or authority jurisdiction, supremacy.
practically (adverb) – almost, nearly, virtually, more or less, in effect, basically.
Islamic Republic (noun) – a sovereign state in the form of a republic that is officially ruled by Islamic laws (e.g. Iran).
retaliate (verb) – hit back, counterattack, take revenge, take vengeance for, avenge, settle a score, hit back at someone, pay someone back, get even.
drag into (phrasal verb) – involve someone in an (inappropriate or unnecessary) situation.
administration (noun) – government, regime.
outcome (noun) – consequence, end result, effect, aftermath, conclusion.
provocative (adjective) – inciting, agitating, fomenting, troublemaking, inflammatory, agitational.
brace for (verb) – prepare oneself for something difficult/unpleasant that is imminent.
ally (noun) – a country/state with an alliance with another one in which they promise to support each other militarily and to defend each other.
in place (phrase) – set up, established, ready, in order, arranged, all set.
rules of the game (phrase) – the standards of behaviour that most people accept and follow or that really operate in a specific area of life.