Report: Lebanese Army a Possible Target in Future Israel-Hizbullah War
Israeli forces are carrying out drills to confront several scenarios in case of a future war with Hizbullah, including an attack on the Lebanese army, a high-ranking Israeli army official said.
Al-Akhbar newspaper on Tuesday quoted the official as saying that Lebanon's army “could become the enemy at any moment.”
“The exercises take into consideration several factors in the future battlefield in Lebanon, including the presence of U.N. troops and the Lebanese army, in addition to Hizbullah's fighters,” the official said.
The soldiers are taking part in drills simulating a battle with not only Hizbullah but also the Lebanese army, which “could turn from a neutral entity into an aggressor,” he added.
The official warned that Israeli troops will attack with all their strength “from the moment” they are “harmed.”
The Jerusalem Post reported Monday that the security establishment has drawn up a new defense doctrine to better enable Israel to deal with threats to the civilian sector.
Senior military sources told the daily that the doctrine is being drawn up at a time when “the Israeli home front faces an unprecedented level of terrorist firepower.”
According to estimates Hizbullah is in possession of some 5,000 long-range rockets that can hit greater Tel Aviv, carrying warheads of between 750 kilograms to a ton.
Before the 2006 war between Hizbullah and Israel, the party had 500 such rockets, with warheads weighing 350 kilograms, said The Jerusalem Post.
The Home Front Command has been busy trying to ensure that in case of a future conflict, basic functionality will continue in the civilian sector, it said.
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