(American Interest) Michael Eisenstadt and Jeffrey White - The potential for miscalculation and escalation is inherent in Hizbullah's doctrine of "resistance," which shapes its approach to Israel. The purported success of the "Islamic resistance" in pushing Israeli forces out of Lebanon (2000) and Gaza (2005) and U.S. forces out of Iraq (2011), and in thwarting the overthrow of the Assad regime in Syria (since 2011), has convinced its adherents that they have hit on a formula for defeating their enemies. Hizballah has gained invaluable experience from its involvement in Syria's civil war. But it is engaged in combat in Syria against lightly armed irregular ground forces, which is not the kind of fighting it would engage in with Israel - an advanced military power. Michael Eisenstadt is director of the Military and Security Studies Program, and Jeffrey White is a defense fellow, at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
2017-09-20 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive