Israel is genuinely facing double trouble. For a year it was fighting Hamas in Gaza, with continuous missions there. On top of that, a war with Hezbollah from Lebanon has commenced. Israel declared this war with covert operations using its pagers and walkie-talkie attacks, followed by bombings in Lebanon.
The war against Hamas has considerably strained Israel, tying its hands in many ways. Soldiers haven’t had a chance to rest. Various shortages within the army have been reported, along with economic strains. The public pressures the government to agree on a ceasefire and hostage deals to end the war and ease financial burdens.
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It is unclear whether Israel intends to escalate this war or is being forced into it. But would a ground attack in Lebanon be wise? Is Israel ready for a ground offensive now? Can the Israeli army conduct operations on another front while still fighting Hamas?
The story starts from last year...
On October 8 last year, Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israel. Since then, clashes with Hezbollah fighters at the Lebanon border have been ongoing, involving rockets, missiles, and bombs. Hezbollah launched the first attack, protesting Israeli assaults in Gaza and demanding a ceasefire.
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While minor skirmishes continued, last week, Israel did something unprecedented. It initiated a novel type of warfare. In several Lebanese cities, Hezbollah fighters’ pagers and walkie-talkies exploded, killing over 20 and injuring around 4,000. This shocked both Hezbollah and the wider world.
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Following this, Hezbollah countered with rocket and drone attacks on Israel, prompting severe Israeli airstrikes on multiple Lebanese cities, eliminating several Hezbollah leaders. But the central question remains: Can Israel fight Hezbollah like it did Hamas? Because Hezbollah is not the same as Hamas.
Hezbollah is Not Hamas: What Does It Mean?
Yoel Guzansky, who served on the National Security Council under three Israeli Prime Ministers and is a Senior Researcher at the Tel Aviv Institute for National Security Studies, said Hezbollah is not Hamas. Hezbollah is a state within a state, possessing a much more complex military strength and support than Hamas.
Also Read: Why Did 600 Indian Soldiers Arrive at the Israel-Lebanon Border in the Midst of the War?
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Last week, Hezbollah launched deadly attacks on several Israeli cities, including Kiryat Bialik, Sur Shalom, Morshet, and Haifa. These cities are just 40 kilometers from the Lebanese border. The Iron Dome couldn’t intercept all these attacks, and stronger ones will be harder to defend against.
Displacement, Deaths, and Injuries on Both Sides
In the past year, due to border attacks, Israel has displaced 62,000 people to safer locations. Casualties include 26 Israeli civilians and 22 soldiers. On the Lebanese side, 94,000 people have been displaced, with 740 killed, including around 500 Hezbollah fighters. Since September 23, 2024, 558 Lebanese have been killed in Israeli strikes, displacing roughly 16,500 individuals.
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Why Will Hezbollah Be Difficult for Israel?
Hezbollah has the full support of Iran. Over the years, this Shia Islamist organization has demonstrated capabilities with advanced weaponry akin to those of major nations. Developing these is intricate and challenging. Hezbollah also has supporters in Iraq and Yemen, alongside allies throughout the Middle East.
Since the 2006 war with Hezbollah, Israel’s military capabilities have evolved and strengthened. Defense experts estimate that Hezbollah has between 30,000 and 50,000 fighters, whereas its leader Hassan Nasrallah claims 100,000 fighters, including reserve forces.
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Hezbollah’s Arsenal: 200,000 Rockets, 1,500 Ballistic Missiles
Hezbollah boasts between 120,000 to 200,000 rockets and missiles. Its most formidable asset is its long-range ballistic missiles – approximately 1,500 that can strike targets 250 to 300 kilometers away with precision. Hezbollah recently claimed to have attacked Israel's Ramat David Airbase using Fadi-1 and Fadi-2 long-range missiles.
The Foundation for Defense of Democracies Senior Fellow Behnam Ben Taleblu stated that the warhead used in these missiles is a variant of the Burkan IRAM, which Hezbollah displayed last winter, causing significant damage in Israel.
