Israel’s Defense Forces (IDF) is preparing for another war with Hezbollah in Lebanon, making use of new technology and tactics in military exercises in the north, Jerusalem Post reported.
IDF troops from several divisions, such as the 7th Armored Brigade as well the Golani Brigade, took part in the exercises.“There has been incredible progress in our abilities. If you look 150 km around us you will not find a brigade or corps as strong as these in their capabilities,” Jerusalem Post cited IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot as saying.
The exercises took place exactly 12 years after Israel and Hezbollah last fought a war where around 165 Israelis and 1,200 Lebanese died.Since then, Hezbollah has strengthened its military capabilities significantly, with an estimated arsenal of some 100,000 and 120,000 short- and medium-range missiles and rockets, as well as several hundred long-range missiles trained on the Jewish State.
Additionally, Hezbollah fighters have gained crucial military experience in Syria where they have been fighting alongside Bashar al-Assad’s forces against rebels and IS.
IDF has also strengthened since the 2006 war, such as its electronic capabilities which have significantly improved both in terms of intelligence gathering and attacks.
According to an IDF officer cited by Jerusalem Post, a new war with Hezbollah would mean fighting the paramilitary group on four different levels at the same time; underground, on land, in the air and online.
“The enemy has changed and therefore so has the IDF. If we will fight differently we need to train differently,” the officer reportedly said.
Another IDF officer said that Israeli soldiers are now making use of new weaponry that allows them to be more maneuverable and less reliant on other units.
“If a brigade is more independent, more flexible and more effective, it will be stronger. We see the increase of our firepower and manpower boosting our effectiveness to neutralize the enemy as fast as possible,” the officer was quoted as saying.
In a future war with Hezbollah, IDF soldiers will need to conquer enemy territory and destroy weapons stores and rocket launchers to minimize the threat of missiles being fired towards Israel.
Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, has warned Israel against launching a war in Lebanon, saying Hezbollah would “assuredly win,” if the two sides were to go to war.Israel on the other hand would consider killing Nasrallah a “decisive victory” according to IDF Maj. Gen. Yaakov Barak.”If we succeed in the next war to kill Nasrallah, in my eyes that is a decisive victory,” Barak said in February.
Lebanon often accuses Israel of using its air space to launch strikes against targets in Syria, a claim Israel refrains from commenting on.Although the border between Israel and Lebanon has been relatively quiet since the 2006 war, Israel is watching its northern borders closely, especially Iran’s actions and presence in Syria as well as its weapons deliveries to Hezbollah.
Israel has struck Iranian targets and weapons convoys en route to Hezbollah numerous times the past couple of years.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeats Israel’s insistence on preventing Iran from consolidating itself in Syria by striking targets it deems fit.
