There is a long history of tensions between Lebanon and Israel, and recent events appear to deepen these tensions. Israeli forces have launched a ground offensive in southern Lebanon, intensifying clashes with Hezbollah. Israel has called it a “limited, local and selective” operation, but regional experts believe it could be the beginning of a longer conflict. Hezbollah said its fighters today managed to push back and damage Israeli troops in Odaisa and Yaroun. Israel has also admitted that 8 of its soldiers were martyred. Some other media reports also claim that Hezbollah is now very confident because it has managed to push back Israeli troops. They see it as a strategic victory. Today we will understand, in the context of the 2006 war and the current situation, why this attack will not be easy for Israel.
The 2006 war: failure or lesson?
The 2006 Israel-Lebanon war is known as Operation Turnaround. This proved to be a great challenge for Israel. The war lasted 34 days and resulted in the deaths of 121 Israeli soldiers and more than 20 tanks destroyed by Hezbollah. Israeli troops faced systematic lethal tactics by Hezbollah along the Lebanese border.
The Israeli government established the Winograd Commission to evaluate the consequences of this war. The Commission described it as a failure. The commission concluded that “Israel began a long war, which ended without any clear military victory.” The Israeli military, particularly its high command and ground forces, was described as failing to mount an effective military response during the war.
Hezbollah: a strong and well-planned adversary
Hezbollah is considered the most powerful non-native military group in the region. The biggest challenge for Israel in a ground attack in Lebanon is Hezbollah’s strength, its guerrilla warfare tactics and better knowledge of the area. In the 2006 war, Hezbollah caused serious damage to the Israeli army with its precise rocket attacks and lethal tactics.
Hezbollah’s strategy was not merely defensive; He also planned attacks, which turned out to be a surprise to the Israeli army. Additionally, Hezbollah has a large arsenal of modern weapons, including rockets, missiles and anti-tank weapons.
Why did the 2006 war happen?
The 2006 Israel-Lebanon war is also known as the “July War.” It took place mainly between Israel and Hezbollah, based in Lebanon. There were many reasons for this war, among which regional tensions and Hezbollah’s activities played an important role. The war began on July 12, 2006, when Hezbollah launched an attack on the Israeli border.
main reason
Kidnapping of soldiers: The immediate cause of the war was the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah. Hezbollah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers patrolling the border and killed several others. Israel considered this incident a major offensive against itself and began military action to respond.
Hezbollah’s growing strength: In the 1980s and 1990s, Hezbollah established itself as a powerful non-state military organization. He had a strong hold on the southern part of Lebanon and Israel saw him as a major threat. Hezbollah’s missile capabilities and continued attacks on Israel had increased tensions.
Israeli-Palestinian conflict: The conflict between Israeli and Palestinian groups was also a major reason for this war. Hezbollah supports the Palestinians and due to the conflict in the Gaza Strip, Hezbollah has intensified attacks against Israel.
Border disputes and security: The border conflict between Israel and Lebanon had been going on for a long time. Israel had created a military presence in southern Lebanon for its security, which Hezbollah constantly challenged. For Israel, this attack was like endangering its security in the north.
Beginning and outcome of the war.
Following this incident, Israel launched widespread air and ground strikes against Hezbollah. In this war that lasted 34 days, both sides suffered heavy losses. Israel attempted to eliminate Hezbollah’s missile capabilities, while Hezbollah fired rockets into areas of northern Israel. More than 1,000 Lebanese civilians were killed in the war, while 121 Israeli soldiers and 40 civilians were killed. There was no clear winner of the war and a ceasefire was finally reached on August 14, 2006 with the intervention of the United Nations.
Current situation: Is this a repeat of 2006?
Israel re-entered Lebanon in 2024, but the question arises whether the situation will be the same as in 2006. On Wednesday, Israel confirmed that eight of its soldiers were killed in clashes in southern Lebanon. This was the deadliest day of the year for Israel. On the other hand, Hezbollah claimed to have destroyed three Merkava tanks of the Israeli army.
However, this time Israel has described its operation as “limited” and “local”, but the situation on the ground indicates otherwise. Israel has deployed a large number of soldiers and tanks to the Lebanese border, so it is feared that this operation will continue for a long time.
Has Israel learned a lesson from 2006?
After the 2006 war, Israel has made many changes to its military strategy. This time Israel is trying to ensure that the war is not prolonged and to make better plans to counter Hezbollah’s guerrilla strategies. Israeli intelligence agencies are monitoring Hezbollah’s activities, so that the same mistakes that were made in 2006 are not repeated this time.
But still, waging a comprehensive ground war against Hezbollah is not easy. Hezbollah also has the ability to challenge Israel’s “Iron Dome” missile defense system and has rockets that can reach deep into Israel. Furthermore, Hezbollah has the open support of Iran, which continues to provide it with financial and military assistance.
What could be the result?
This land conflict could have far-reaching consequences. If the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah continues, it would not only be disastrous for Lebanon and Israel, but could destabilize the entire Middle East. This new competition between Hezbollah’s strategy and Israel’s military power is before the eyes of the entire world. Israel has learned lessons from the experiences of 2006, but whether those lessons will be enough remains to be seen. Lebanon has once again become a battlefield and this time the outcome is more uncertain than ever.
