Hezbollah's Resilience Amid Israeli Strikes
Retired Major General Fayez Al-Duwairi, a military and strategic expert, asserts that Hezbollah continues to effectively manage its defensive operations despite the ongoing Israeli strikes that have inflicted significant human costs. He emphasizes that these attacks have not diminished Hezbollah's combat capabilities. In a recent analysis, Al-Duwairi noted that Hezbollah launched five substantial missile barrages even amidst intensive Israeli air campaigns and targeted assassinations of key military leaders, including Fouad Shukr and Ibrahim Aqil.
Asymmetric Warfare Strategy
Al-Duwairi elaborated on the nature of asymmetric warfare, explaining that organizations like Hezbollah, which engage in such conflicts against a more conventional military, anticipate and prepare for severe retaliations. He highlighted that military operations often involve the loss of communication and leadership due to strategic assassinations, but this does not equate to a collapse of combat effectiveness. He pointed out that while planning remains centralized, execution is decentralized, allowing for continued operational capability.
Hezbollah's Military Capabilities
The military capabilities of Hezbollah are noteworthy, particularly their missile arsenal, which is estimated to range between 100,000 and 200,000 missiles, with 80% classified as unguided. Al-Duwairi remarked that Hezbollah has yet to deploy its medium- and long-range missiles, indicating a reserve of power. On the Israeli side, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu views the current military actions as successful preemptive strikes but acknowledges that these gains could be jeopardized should a ground invasion occur. Al-Duwairi concluded by stating that any Israeli ground operation in southern Lebanon would be far from straightforward, as Hezbollah has adeptly utilized the terrain to fortify its defensive strategy.
