Military Expert Analyzes Israel's Ground Operations Against Hezbollah
As Israel embarks on the second phase of its ground operations in Lebanon, military and strategic expert Brigadier General Hassan Jouni has raised significant concerns regarding the feasibility of the Israeli army's objectives. According to Jouni, the decision to escalate military actions lacks military logic and is heavily influenced by political and media considerations. He characterized the initial phase of the operation as a failure, citing the resilience of Lebanese resistance groups that effectively thwarted Israeli advances and inflicted substantial losses on their forces.
The Israeli newspaper Maariv reported that the primary goal of the second phase is to dismantle Hezbollah's missile capabilities, while also exerting pressure on the group regarding ongoing settlement negotiations in Lebanon. Jouni contends that this announcement primarily serves to reassure the Israeli public, who have been under threat from Hezbollah's missile and drone attacks. He emphasized that the Israeli military's narrative aims to convince citizens of their safety amidst ongoing hostilities.
Challenges in Neutralizing Hezbollah's Missile Threat
Brigadier General Jouni elaborated on the operational challenges facing the Israeli army. He stated that effectively neutralizing Hezbollah's missile capabilities would necessitate a full-scale invasion of Lebanese territory, particularly targeting areas like Hermel and Qusayr. However, he deemed such an undertaking impractical, given the high costs and risks involved for the Israeli forces. Despite Israel's advanced military technology, including air force capabilities and defense systems, Jouni noted that these have proven inadequate in intercepting the missiles and drones launched by Hezbollah.
Hezbollah has claimed significant casualties inflicted on Israeli troops, reporting over 100 soldiers killed and around 1,000 wounded since the onset of the ground operations on October 1. The Chief of Staff of the Israeli army, Herzi Halevi, recently approved the expansion of military operations in southern Lebanon, reflecting a strategic shift to target new areas where Hezbollah is active. As tensions escalate, the conflict continues to pose serious implications for regional stability and security.
