Now the world begins to see what Israel is capable of, in terms of intelligence, meticulous planning and military skill. Where this will end is not yet clear…
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Last week I reported on the action, attributed to Israel, that on Wednesday caused the explosion of pagers and then a day later the explosion of walkie-talkies in the possession of members of Hezbollah. The complexity of this operation fairly boggled the mind. It had been in work for years and was set in place so that the explosions were almost simultaneous. Those explosions were contained so that there was a minimum of collateral damage.
“Each of the Hezbollah communication devices that exploded in Lebanon last week was individually detonated, with Israeli intelligence knowing exactly which terrorist operative was being targeted, his location, and whether others were in close proximity, Israel’s Channel 12 reported on Saturday night.
“Citing Israeli and foreign sources, the channel said that Jerusalem went to great lengths to ensure that only Hezbollah terrorists carrying the devices would be hurt.” (Emphasis added)
https://www.jns.org/hezbollah-devices-detonated-individually-to-spare-civilians/
Thousands of the members of Hezbollah, including some commanders, were wounded and required hospitalization. Some small number were killed (although Israel believes the number is considerably larger than what had been reported by Hezbollah).
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The fact that large numbers of Hezbollah operatives, as well as commanders, were incapacitated was only a portion of the military gain for Israel – and in fact not the most significant portion. There was enormous confusion, fear, disarray – all of which reduces military effectiveness.
The major gain is said to be a loss of command-and-control abilities. Where commanders are still standing, they are without the ability to properly communicate with troops in the field regarding where they are to go and what they should do.
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On Friday, the IAF struck the headquarters of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force. The strike, which was intelligence-based, took out the entire command structure – in all, 12 individuals.
Most significantly, this included Ibrahim Aqil, the head of Hezbollah’s Operations Unit and the Commander the Radwan Force.
In addition to being responsible for numerous terror attacks in Israel, Aqil, who operated under Nasrallah, had directed the terror attack on the US Embassy in Beirut in 1983.
According to Israeli intelligence, Aqil and his team were planning a “Conquer the Galilee” operation, much like what Hamas executed at the border of Gaza on October 7. They intended to infiltrate Israel from the north, seize control of communities in the Galil, and kill and kidnap Israeli civilians.
Originally, the Radwan Force was meant to be working in concert with Hamas, so that Israel would be hit with massacres on two fronts at the same time. Hamas, however, obscenely drawn to the possibility of attacking the Nova music festival, operated unilaterally ahead of the planned joint attack.
“Conquer the Galilee” is Hezbollah’s portion of that planned action. According to our intelligence, they intended to put it into effect very soon. (The projectiles launched at Israel’s north since October 8 might be seen as having had the objective of weakening the population before this attack.)
President Isaac Herzog told Sky News (Britain) on Sunday:
“…all of these leaders who were eradicated on Friday by the Israeli attack, all of these leaders were meeting together in order to launch the same horrific, horrendous attack that we had on October 7 by Hamas, by burning Israelis, butchering them, raping their women, abducting and taking hostage old people and young, and little babies.”
https://www.jns.org/herzog-terrorists-slain-in-beirut-were-plotting-oct-7-style-attack/
Thus, the urgency to take out the planners.
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At the same time, Israel struck other Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon, where additional senior commanders from the Radwan Force’s command chain were located. It was a massive operation in which 150 Israeli jets participated.
Additionally, 180 military targets were hit, disabling the capabilities of thousands of munition launchers.
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Preparations in Israel’s north for a reprisal attack from Hezbollah were in place by Sunday and have since been tightened: schools have been closed, large public gatherings are forbidden, hospitals are moving patients to protected areas, national parks are closed, etc.
Starting Saturday night, Hezbollah began launching projectiles – including Katyushas, Grads, Fadi-1 and Fadi-2 rockets, cruise missiles and drones – sent out in four barrages. There were more than 100 rockets launched on Sunday alone. The projectiles were launched deeper into Israel than had been the case since they began launching rockets on October 8 – on Sunday going as far as Haifa and the Jezreel Valley in the lower Galil.
Israel has a multi-layered aerial defense system – Arrow-2, Arrow-3, David’s Sling, and Iron Dome – that intercepted most of the projectiles and prevented significant damage to the home front. Six persons have been injured; some property has been destroyed.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/396554
Israel has been responding to the attacks with vigor. What is clear is that there will be a further intensification of hostilities.
Just a short while ago (Monday late afternoon), as part of a barrage of some 80 rockets, 20 rockets were launched against Samaria – towards the city of Ariel and a number of settlements. This was the first time this area was target by Hezbollah.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/396617
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Last week the Security Cabinet updated the objectives of the war to include “returning the residents of the North securely to their homes.”
On Saturday, Commanding Officer of the Northern Command, Major General Ori Gordin said, “we will continue and deepen the blow. We are at a point of change…we are in a high state of readiness for further offensive plans against Hezbollah.
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This morning (Monday) IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari had this to say (emphasis added):
“Hezbollah stores cruise missiles, rockets, launchers, and UAVs inside civilian homes hidden behind the Lebanese population living in the village. We are monitoring these activities, locating the weapons, and destroying them with precise intelligence-based strikes.”
He showed an example of how Hezbollah creates a designated opening in a home, so that the missile can be launched.
“Shortly, the IDF will engage in extensive precise strikes against terror targets which have been embedded widely throughout Lebanon. We ask residents of Lebanese villages to pay attention to the message and warning published by the IDF and heed them. This is an advance warning for your own safety and the safety of your family.”
You can see his presentation here:
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/396592
What is astounding, as you see Hagari’s presentation, is not that Israel knows Hezbollah stores rockets in homes. It is that our intelligence can pinpoint their precise location.
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We are in the process, then, of doing what needs to be done to reclaim our north. The situation that has been endured since October 8 simply could not go on.
However, let no one imagine that it will be a walk in the park. Hezbollah possess smart bombs that can reach all of Israel, and there is concern about a cyber-attack.
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With it all, the bottom line and the toughest part of the effort to restore security in our north is the fact that it will require boots on the ground.
There is no way that Hezbollah can be pushed back without a ground operation. Not as matters stand.
The US continues to push for a “negotiated settlement,” to avoid a war (and I hope to return to this soon), but it is not a viable option. An negotiated interim of quiet, with Hezbollah still present in southern Lebanon and in possession of missiles, would provide no security for the residents of the north at all.
Hezbollah might negotiate a settlement down the road, when they have been sufficiently degraded; such a settlement would require Hezbollah to pull out of southern Lebanon. Anything less would be pointless.
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The current opportunity to go in, while Hezbollah is weakened and disorganized, should not be wasted, and likely will not be. There are strong indications that we will go in. There will be no policy statement in this regard, nor should we expect one. Our troops will simply go in, when the time is right – perhaps after Hezbollah has been softened yet a bit more.
Colonel Elad Tzuri, commander of the 7th Armored Brigade, very recently sent a message to his troops. (Emphasis added)
“Hezbollah has brought the fight to our land, and we are preparing to restore peace and security, allowing residents to return home and farmers to resume their work.
“It is a privilege to protect our country, and we will be the ones to lead the way to victory.”
The 7th Armored Brigade led the ground troops as the IDF entered Gaza last October. It was recently redeployed to the northern front.
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Following a security assessment at the Kirya today, Prime Minister Netanyahu said:
“…We are not waiting for the threat, we are pre-empting it – everywhere, in every sector, constantly…
“I promised that we would change the security balance, the balance of forces in the north – this is exactly what we are doing…
“We face complex times. Citizens of Israel, I ask of you two things: Follow the directives of Home Front Command, they save lives; and stand together with determination, responsibility and – of course – patience. Together we will stand strong, together we will fight and with G-d’s help, together we will win.”
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/396616
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I believe that Bibi is right. We are facing a difficult time, for which we must garner our strength and our resolve. In the end, we will be victorious.
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Keep praying to Heaven for Israel.
Pray for the safety of all Israel.
Pray for the strength and wisdom of our leaders, for the safety of our soldiers, and for the rescue of our hostages.
Pray in a spirit of hope.
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©Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by independent journalist Arlene Kushner. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.
