’Israel’ Fears Coming War with Hizbullah: Ground Initiative, New Strategies, Occupying Galilee

Local Editor

"Israel" warned on Thursday that Hizbullah has changed its strategy and could take any future battle into Tel Aviv.

Citing a senior intelligence "Israeli" official, the Haaretz "Israeli" daily, cited an article by a lieutenant colonel in intelligence, published in the military magazine Maarachot presenting an unusual scenario on Hizbullah war strategy.

The officer, identified only by his first initial N., argued that ""Israel" should take into account the possibility that Hizbullah changed its strategy to something completely different," warning that the group could now initiate war.

"Participating in the war in Syria brings Hizbullah closer to adopting an offensive strategy against "Israel" as well," the officer wrote.
He further argued The significance is that Hizbullah is liable to strive for a different kind of confrontation: Instead of reacting to an "Israeli" initiative and standing in the breach, taking the initiative and making a ground offensive and multi-pronged attack on "Israeli" territory.
"It's reasonable to presume that Hizbullah will try to repeat the [2006]feat, waging a war of attrition against "Israel's" rear guard by firing tens of thousands of rockets over a relatively long period while it slows down the "Israeli" army progress in Lebanon."

The officer claimed that there were signs Hizbullah was weighing trying to shorten the next campaign through ground operations in the Zionist entity.

Referring to comments by Hizbullah leadership about "conquering the Galilee," the officer said "Israel" should be alert to such declarations although they might "sound arrogant, perhaps unrealistic ... because they might reflect Hizbullah's intentions."
According to the officer, Hizbullah's 2006 strategy reflected its deep understanding of "Israel's" technological, intelligence and air superiority as well as of "Israel's" weak spots: high sensitivity to casualties, aversion to a long campaign and the need for clear victory.
"The party has worked ever since on improving its strong points against "Israel"," the official argued.

The report said Hizbullah indicated its possible new strategy in 2011 when it published on its website a presentation entitled "The Galilee - the next place of confrontation with the enemy."

The officer also highlighted that "In August 2012, Hizbullah held a military exercise with 10,000 fighters, and Lebanese newspapers reported that the exercise included a scenario of an attack on the Galilee."

"It has amassed a lot of experience in the battles in Syria and is now capable of waging a wider war. N. believes that participating in the war in Syria brings Hizbullah closer to adopting an offensive strategy against "Israel" as well."
He called on the "Israeli" authorities to be highly alert to this possible scenario.
"If Hizbullah does change its strategy, it will have substantial consequences for "Israel"," he said.

"The "Israeli" army will have to take into account the possibility that Hizbullah will try to shorten the war by creating facts on the ground like an attack on the Galilee," the officer added.

Moreover, he added: "It will have to prepare civilians for such an offensive and prepare for the option of Hizbullah launching a surprise attack in an attempt to end the war before it even begins."
N. wrote Hizbullah's 2006 strategy reflected its deep understanding of "Israel's" technological, intelligence and air superiority as well as of "Israel's" weak spots: high sensitivity to casualties, aversion to a long campaign and the need for clear victory.
"Hizbullah improved its ability to absorb hits, attacked civilian targets and used explosive devices and anti-tank missiles to slow down the "Israeli" army."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team