The Economist: Israel will receive from the biggest rocket barrage in history from Hezbollah
The Economist reported, quoting an Israeli officer, that Hezbollah is much better prepared for an Israeli ground invasion of Lebanon, compared to previous Ukraine preparations against Russia in 2022.
“The positions that the IDF thought were well camouflaged were repeatedly found and struck by Hezbollah,” the officer said, adding that the only reason the IDF didn’t suffer heavy losses in the north is that its forces will remain invisible”.
Former Israeli military intelligence chief Tamir Hayman said that if Israel wants to bring about change, it must destroy the entire Hezbollah structure, which isn’t possible, especially at the moment.
Hezbollah is far more prepared for any war than in 2006, and its ready to face any Israeli ground invasion.
The Economist also revealed that Hezbollah has acquired a wide range of suicide drones designed in Iran, and although the IDF has active protection systems that can counter anti-tank missiles, drones target weaker points at the top of Israeli vehicles.
The second factor of Hezbollah’s strength is that it developed its ground forces after its forces were steadily entrenched, according to the Economist, but now there is Radwan’s elite force, which aimed to strike Israel at a depth of 20 kilometers.
The third factor is that the group benefited from its experience of fighting in Syria alongside the Russian air force.
Hezbollah’s firepower has also become more accurate, with routinely using drones to identify direct missile targets and sending reconnaissance drones to identify targets to attack with extreme precision.
Then there is the issue of Israeli soldiers, with IDF generals optimistically talking about a limited ground maneuver to seize a security zone to prevent Hezbollah from targeting border settlements, but the article recalls that in 1982 the IDF needed 7 divisions to invade Lebanon.
Hezbollah used 4 divisions in the smaller war in 2006.
At present, the Israeli army is facing intense pressure in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and one reservist who participated in those exercises says, “I don’t see where they will bring enough soldiers”.
Regarding Israeli estimates, the Economist said that in the event of a war with Hezbollah, estimates indicate that Israel will receive the largest continuous rocket barrage in history.
Indeed, the next war will be even more severe for Israel, as Hezbollah now has more than 120,000 rockets and missiles, many of which are capable of reaching Tel Aviv and beyond, with precision guidance.
A report by more than 100 experts and former Israeli officials warned that Hezbollah could fire 2,500 to 3,000 rockets a day, 25 times the rate of rocket fire in 2006, for three consecutive weeks, and this would be the largest continuous rocket barrage in history, noting that even if US destroyers off the coast of Lebanon could destroy larger missiles, Israeli defense systems would sink in many places, which would It would lead to heavy Israeli losses.
Since Oct 7 last year, Hezbollah air defenses have improved, shooting down more than seven Israeli drones.
Israeli experts doubted the possibility of removing the feeling of fear that hangs over the north of the Israel, which prevents settlers from returning to the north.
According to a veteran senior Mossad official, “the army is tired in Gaza, and it needs at least 6 months to prepare for another war”.
Earlier, the Israeli media described Hezbollah in Lebanon as one of the 5 great powers in terms of the number of missiles it has: The United States, China, Russia, Germany.
