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Israel's Response to Hizbullah

(Washington Institute for Near East Policy) Matthew Levitt, director of the Washington Institute's Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, said Israel can no longer tolerate Hizbullah firing rockets and drones across the border on a near-daily basis. The government is keen on getting its citizens back to their homes in the north. Hizbullah is unlikely to accept a diplomatic solution so long as it believes it can maintain the current tempo of fighting without risking full-fledged war. The Oct. 7 attack completely changed Israel's perspective on external security threats, making it less likely to accept a perpetual Hizbullah threat on its border or a diplomatic solution that simply kicks the can down the road regarding the group's massive rocket and missile arsenal. Brig.-Gen. (res.) Assaf Orion, an International Fellow of the Institute and former head of the IDF Strategic Planning Division, says Iran appears to have entered a new stage of aggression and risk-taking in support of its proxies. Hizbullah and Tehran may be overconfident about their ability to inflict damage on Israel. The requirements for a diplomatic solution are clear. Beirut must reestablish state control in southern Lebanon, and the international community must acknowledge the need to destroy Iranian supply lines to its proxies, the main problem underlying recent cycles of escalation. However, any agreement with Hizbullah would only last until Nasrallah believes he can safely attack Israel again.
2024-07-30 00:00:00
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