Israel's Military Strategy in Southern Lebanon
Military expert Brigadier General Elias Hanna has assessed Israel's ongoing military operations in southern Lebanon, suggesting that the Israeli military is resorting to widespread destruction as a means to compensate for its strategic failures against Hezbollah. According to Hanna, the current conflict has shifted from an urban warfare dynamic to a guerrilla warfare scenario, with Hezbollah regaining significant military initiative.
Hanna highlights that Hezbollah possesses several advantages over Israeli forces, including broader geographical areas and a substantial missile arsenal capable of severely disrupting Israeli operations. This situation has prompted Israel to engage in destructive tactics aimed at crippling Hezbollah's military capabilities along the Lebanese border. The expert notes that Hezbollah's recent reorganization has allowed it to exert control over regions south of the Litani River, presenting a formidable challenge to Israeli forces.
Impact on Israeli Settlements and Future Negotiations
Despite Israel's military efforts, Hanna points out that the Israeli government has struggled to encourage settlers to return to border communities abandoned due to Hezbollah's attacks. As a result, Israel's strategy has involved the destruction of villages in southern Lebanon to hinder Hezbollah's military operations.
Hanna further explains that Hezbollah's missile strikes are primarily aimed at attrition, pressuring Israel to engage in negotiations by creating a security reality that the Israeli public may find intolerable over time. The ongoing missile attacks have increasingly targeted central and upper Galilee, with strikes reaching the outskirts of Tel Aviv, signaling Hezbollah's capability to disrupt Israeli life significantly if necessary.
