Israel’s Ground Invasion: Hezbollah’s Strategic Response And Regional Tensions

Israel has now launched a ground invasion in Lebanon, advancing against Hezbollah, an Iran-backed paramilitary group that is recognized as a terrorist organization by the U.S., Israel, and others. The invasion came after a year of defending missile strikes from Hezbollah out of support for Hamas in Gaza. Israel’s new offensive in Lebanon has killed Hezbollah senior commanders and forced Lebanon residents to evacuate and leave their homes, adding to the refugee crisis in the Middle East region.  With this advancement, there are concerns about a broader war that could potentially involve more regional powers, including Iran. 

Hezbollah, through its media statements and military tactics, asserts that they are well prepared for an Israeli attack. Hezbollah has created a network of tunnels that are estimated to be hundreds of kilometers long and lead into Israel. According to a Hezbollah field commander interviewed by Reuters, the tunnels “are the foundation of the battle” and “their time has come [to be used].” The field commander also stated that command operates in secrecy with fixed line communication, and if the chain of command breaks, fighters have been trained to combat effectively.

A ceasefire is currently in the works, but it lies in the hands of both Israel and Hezbollah. In an address, Hezbollah Deputy leader Naim Qassem seemed open to the idea of a ceasefire. Nonetheless, he noted that they would let “the battlefield decide” the outcome if Israel wanted to continue fighting. According to the Lebanese health ministry, Israeli strikes have killed at least 2,350 people over the last year and left nearly 11,000 wounded, and more than 1.2 million people have been displaced. Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, says the reason for attacking Hezbollah is “to prevent [Hezbollah] from threatening Israel’s citizens on the northern border and to enable them to return to their homes safely.” Even though Qassam has stated he is open to the drafted ceasefire, Netanyahu’s reasoning for non-agreement was its failure to stop Hezbollah from reorganizing. Looking back in 2006, we can see a ceasefire was possible. This consisted of a withdrawal from both IDF and Hezbollah, the disarming of Hezbollah, and the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and UN peacekeepers.  

The LAF are staying out of the war for now. According to Foreign Policy, their army consists of only 70,000 active troops and outdated tanks. For the LAF to take a stance is tricky. The U.S. has been a main provider of funding for the LAF. If aligned against Israel, the LAF would willingly fight alongside a U.S.-designated terrorist group. Whereas fighting against Hamas’ power and representation in Lebanon could result in a civil war. However, while the LAF stands idle, a terrorist group is the sole defender in Lebanon against Israel, but also the cause behind the attacks. Hezbollah being the only defender of Lebanon slowly delegitimizes the LAF and could potentially lead to the destruction of Lebanon. The Lebanese government and army must act quickly, using diplomatic and domestic means to regain control and protect Lebanon from further harm and restore peace. 

Given Hezbollah’s long-standing opposition to Israel, it will be essential for international actors to press both Netanyahu and Hezbollah for a negotiated solution to prevent an all-out war. The establishment of the Israeli state remains contested by many Arab nations who do not view Israel as rightfully belonging. To promote lasting peace, there must be continuous open dialogue on the necessity and legitimacy of the Israeli State. However, Israel must acknowledge the complex history of the land that they are on. Both sides must seek ways to coexist peacefully with one another. The first step is to immediately stop the current fighting and get rid of the extreme ideology against one another that has only resulted in conflict, many deaths, and cities being destroyed. Sustainable peace can only be reached when the leader’s top priority is to end the war immediately and then resolve the underlying cause of violence. The voices of those harmed, victims of decade-long violence, must be heard to call an end to this conflict.

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