Military and strategic expert Colonel Hatem Karim Al-Falahi has analyzed the recent Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, particularly in the southern suburbs of Beirut and the city of Tyre. He asserts that these attacks, which have targeted residential buildings and crowded neighborhoods, indicate a significant failure of the Israeli ground operation in the region. The bombings aim to displace civilians and cause widespread destruction, reflecting the exhaustion of the Israeli army's target bank. Al-Falahi notes that the ongoing shelling of new neighborhoods suggests confusion and an inability to achieve the objectives of the second phase of the ground operation.
According to Al-Falahi, the Israeli military has suffered considerable losses, with estimates of around 110 soldiers killed and significant destruction of tanks, leading to repeated withdrawals from combat positions. This situation has reportedly caused tension within the Israeli military leadership, prompting calls for the dismissal of key commanders, including the head of the Golani Brigade.
The geographical challenges of Lebanon, characterized by highlands and valleys, complicate the Israeli army's operations, which heavily rely on artillery and air bombardment. These terrain features hinder the movement of vehicles and armored units, forcing the Israeli forces to depend more on infantry, complicating their military strategies. Despite attempts to change attack axes in areas like Shama and Al-Bayada, the Israeli forces have failed to achieve significant breakthroughs, even over short distances.
Hezbollah's combat tactics, which aim to lure Israeli forces into strategically disadvantageous positions, have resulted in heavy losses for the Israeli army. Al-Falahi highlighted the failures in operations in key areas such as Bint Jbeil and Khiyam, where Israeli forces have experienced repeated withdrawals due to casualties. He warns that if the current operational difficulties persist, it may lead to a temporary halt in ground operations for reorganization, indicating a broader weakness in Israeli military planning and execution.
