Editor-DN
New Delhi:
Israeli forces today launched “ground raids” targeting Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon villages. As the Israeli offensive began, the specter of past incursions on the Levantine nation was still fresh in the minds of its citizens. The last attack, the 2006 Lebanon War, was a 34-day conflict that exposed military, political and strategic gaps on both sides. Israeli forces, initially confident of their superiority, soon succumbed to Hezbollah’s guerrilla tactics, resulting in heavy casualties and a stalemate that both sides claimed as a victory.
Now, nearly two decades later, Israel’s military appears to have learned from the conflict, preparing for what could be the most decisive military engagement with Hezbollah in its history. , whose leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an airstrike in Beirut two days ago.
1982: First attack
The Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982 that gave birth to Hezbollah was born out of the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982. After Israel’s push into Lebanese territory, particularly in the country’s eastern Bekaa region, Hezbollah emerged as a resistance force backed by Iran. Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). Over time, Hezbollah would become one of the strongest non-state actors in the Middle East and a constant thorn in Israel’s side.
Lebanese army during the 1982 war with Israel
Photo credit: Getty
Three years later, in 1985, Hezbollah took another formal form with the establishment of its military arm, the Islamic Resistance, in Lebanon. Early operations focused on suicide bombings and guerrilla warfare, particularly targeting Israeli forces in the south, often in conjunction with the South Lebanon Army (SLA), a predominantly Christian militia allied with Israel.
2006 Lebanon War
The 2006 Lebanon War began on July 12, when Hezbollah fighters launched a cross-border attack, capturing two Israeli soldiers and killing three others. This was followed by an escalation of the military conflict that saw Israeli forces push into southern Lebanon to confront Hezbollah. From the start, however, Israel’s military faced unexpected resistance.
Less than a mile into Lebanese territory, Israeli troops found themselves embroiled in heavy fighting with Hezbollah. The 34-day conflict saw the deaths of 121 Israeli soldiers, the destruction of several tanks by shoulder-fired missiles, and Hezbollah’s continued ability to fire rockets into Israel.
Israeli tanks entered Lebanon in 1982.
Photo credit: Getty
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who led the country during the war, later reflected on the shortcomings of the conflict, saying the Israeli military was not ready for a comprehensive ground operation. The Winograd Commission, appointed by the government to review the outcome of the war, accused the Israeli leadership of rushing into poorly planned action. Intelligence failures, logistical errors, and undermining Hezbollah’s capabilities led the commission to describe what the commission described as a “serious, missed opportunity” to deal a more decisive blow to the militant group.
Despite these setbacks, the war officially ended with both Israel and Hezbollah claiming victory. The Israeli army inflicted heavy losses on Hezbollah, while Hezbollah was able to withstand the attack and continued attacks until a UN-brokered ceasefire came into effect.
Learning from the past
Today, as Israeli forces prepare for another possible invasion of Lebanon, the lessons of 2006 are key to their strategy. In recent weeks, Israel has adopted a preemptive strategy targeting Hezbollah’s logistics and communications infrastructure. Key weapons depots have been destroyed, and senior Hezbollah commanders, including Nasrallah, have been eliminated. The ouster of Hezbollah’s leadership has deeply shocked the organization, which built its identity around resistance to Israeli incursions.
Israeli tanks in Lebanon during the 2006 war.
Photo credit: Getty
The attacks are the result of years of intelligence gathering and military planning. Unlike in 2006, when Israeli forces struggled to locate and target Hezbollah hideouts, today Israel appears to have built a robust intelligence network capable of identifying key Hezbollah assets. It is worth it. Military exercises, improved war plans, and a multi-pronged air defense system now form the backbone of Israel’s defensive and offensive power.
Hezbollah, which has an estimated arsenal of 150,000 rockets and missiles, has been significantly weakened in recent weeks. With its leadership in disarray and hundreds of its fighters killed or wounded, it is unclear how effectively the group can rise to the challenge.
Risk of regional escalation
While Israel’s military power has increased significantly since 2006, the regional landscape has also changed. One of the most troubling concerns for Israel is the possibility of the conflict spreading beyond Lebanon’s borders. Hezbollah’s ties to Iran, and growing coordination among Iran-backed militias in Iraq, Syria and Yemen, present a real risk of the war spreading across the region. Iran’s Axis Resistance — a collection of armed Shiite militias in the Middle East — is capable of firing ballistic missiles at Israel.
Tehran, which has invested heavily in Hezbollah’s military infrastructure over the past two decades, cannot sit idly by if Israel continues its aggression. This raises the risk of Iranian forces or their proxies becoming directly involved in the conflict, potentially drawing the United States and other regional powers into the fray.
Ground Attack Challenges
A ground attack on Lebanon comes with significant risks. Although weakened, Hezbollah is still a threat to Israeli forces, especially in close combat. Over the years, Hezbollah has developed an extensive defensive infrastructure, including tunnels, bunkers, and strong positions, that can turn any ground operation into a protracted and bloody conflict — like Israel’s ongoing conflict in Gaza. It is evident from the war where they face similar threats.
A fire broke out after an Israeli bombardment of an area in southern Lebanon.
Photo credit: AFP
Hezbollah fighters are also at loggerheads over their involvement in Syria’s civil war, where they are fighting alongside Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces against various rebel groups.
Adding to these challenges is the region of southern Lebanon, a region that Hezbollah knows intimately. Dense urban and mountainous terrain provide ample cover for guerrilla fighters, making it difficult for Israeli forces to engage Hezbollah without taking significant casualties.
Hezbollah’s response
Hezbollah has also learned from its past encounters with Israel. After the 2006 conflict, former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah admitted that the group had misjudged Israel’s response to the cross-border attack. In the years since, with Iranian support, Hezbollah has increased its military capabilities. It has amassed a vast stockpile of rockets, missiles and drones, while also building extensive defenses in southern Lebanon.
However, following the deaths of Nasrallah and other senior Hezbollah commanders, the organization’s ability to mount a coordinated response to Israel’s attacks is in question. The extent to which Hezbollah can withstand an Israeli military attack may ultimately depend on Iran’s role in the conflict. Tehran has long used Hezbollah as a proxy to increase influence in the region and challenge Israeli power. With Hezbollah now reeling from recent attacks by Israel, Iran may seek additional support to prevent the collapse of its most important ally in the Levant.
