2024-09-26 15:24:24
Tel Aviv: After fighting with Hamas for almost a year in Gaza, Israel has now opened a new front with Hezbollah in Lebanon. After the bombing in Lebanon, Israel has now started bombing Hezbollah’s stronghold in Beirut, in which more than 500 people have been killed. Meanwhile, news is coming that after the air strike, Israel is now preparing to start a ground operation in Lebanon. But meanwhile the important question is whether Israel can handle the second front at this time? In Lebanon, Israel is facing Hezbollah, which is Iran’s most powerful proxy. Before understanding the strength of Hezbollah, it is important to note that the nearly year-long battle against Hamas has put a lot of pressure on the Israeli army. The soldiers are getting very little rest. Israeli officials are citing a shortage of soldiers. There is a huge pressure on the economy and public pressure is increasing for a ceasefire and hostage agreement. There has been border firing between Hezbollah and the Israeli army since the day after Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel.
Tensions with Hezbollah at peak
This tension reached its peak last week when Israel blew up pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah, injuring thousands of people. Since then, both have intensified attacks on each other. Meanwhile, experts say that if Israel enters a direct war with Hezbollah, then this war will be very different for it from the fight with Hamas. Experts have asked Israel to be ready to pay the price.
Hezbollah is not Hamas
Yoel Guzansky is a senior researcher at the Tel Aviv-based Institute for National Security Studies. He has served on Israel’s National Security Council under three prime ministers. “Hezbollah is a separate state within a state with unique military capabilities,” he told CNN. “Let’s understand the challenges Israel faces if a war breaks out with Hezbollah.”
Strong military capability
As Iran’s closest proxy, the Shia extremist group Hezbollah has not only demonstrated advanced weapons in the past few years, it has also formed a strategic encirclement against Israel with its allies in the Middle East, including Yemen and Iraq. Military experts estimate that Hezbollah has 30,000 to 50,000 fighters. However, this year Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah claimed that the group has more than 100,000 fighters and reserve soldiers.
Weapons of Hezbollah
Experts estimate that the group has 120,000 to 200,000 rockets and missiles. Hezbollah’s biggest military weapon is ballistic missiles, which are estimated to be in the thousands. This includes 1,500 missiles with a range of 250-300 kilometers. Last weekend, Hezbollah said it had fired Fadi 1 and Fadi 2 missiles at Israel’s Ramat David airbase, which is 48 kilometers inside the Lebanese border.
Ability to attack entire Israel
Israel has a much better military power than Hezbollah, but the Iran-backed group has missiles with a range of up to 500 kilometers. It can cover the whole of Israel. However, it will have to bypass Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system. The rockets and missiles that Hezbollah has are capable of hitting targets at a range of up to 500 kilometers. This means that it can cover the whole of Israel.
The challenge before Israel
Israel is a small country and its military power is not unlimited. Referring to Israel’s challenge, Guzansky said that diverting resources towards Lebanon does not mean that the Gaza war is over. Israeli analysts and army officials have also repeatedly said that the IDF is facing a shortage. At the beginning of the war with Hamas, the IDF recruited 295,000 reservists, but this number is proving to be insufficient. In such a situation, Israel will face challenges in starting a ground war against Hezbollah.