Israeli army brags about 'achievements' against Hezbollah during and after war
The Israeli army has published stats about its attacks in Lebanon since the end of its September-November war against Hezbollah and the entry into force of the ceasefire agreement.
The Israeli army said it killed more than 234 Hezbollah operatives and destroyed “approximately 90 rocket launchers, approximately 20 command posts, and approximately 40 (Hezbollah) infrastructure sites, in addition to five weapons production sites and three Radwan Force training camps.”
Israel’s military added that it also carried out “hundreds” of ground operations inside Lebanon to destroy weapons and Hezbollah infrastructure.
It added that during the all-out war, it killed “approximately 4,000 to 5,000 Hezbollah commanders and operatives, in addition to removing approximately 9,000 operatives from the combat zone.”
The Israeli army also claimed that it destroyed 70-80% of Hezbollah's short-range rocket launchpads.
“In addition, during the operation, the IDF (Israeli army) exposed and destroyed approximately 1,500 underground infrastructure sites along the border line and destroyed all attack tunnels,” it said.
Israeli military officials meanwhile said that the army assesses that its achievements against Hezbollah since the November ceasefire could potentially bring the Lebanese group to “complete disarmament,” Israeli media reports said.
“We are pushing away every threat and eliminating anyone who tries to threaten and approach the border area,” outgoing IDF Northern Command chief Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin told reporters at an Israeli army post in south Lebanon.
“We are constantly on forward defense and continue to strengthen and fortify it, so that the forces here can carry out strong and significant defense against Hezbollah,” Gordin said.
“Hezbollah is far from us, and we strike it at every opportunity,” he added.
The Israeli army meanwhile said it has filed “some 1,280 complaints to the (ceasefire) committee as of Monday, including 670 that the Lebanese Armed Forces were asked to enforce and 530 after the IDF (Israeli army) carried out airstrikes against the alleged violations.”
Of the 670 complaints the LAF was requested to enforce, it dealt with 456. Another 80 were “enforced” by the Israeli army with airstrikes, and 18 violations were closed for “being irrelevant,” the Israeli army added.
Israeli military officials have said that the Lebanese Army has been improving with its activities to dismantle Hezbollah, but is still not working as fast as they would like to see.
Still, Hezbollah is considered by the Israeli army to have been “heavily degraded,” mostly as a result of the two months of open warfare between September and November. But Isralei military officials said that 25-30 percent of the Israeli army’s achievements against Hezbollah “have actually been achieved since the ceasefire, in the strikes aimed at preventing the group from regrouping and rearming.”
Most of Hezbollah’s weapons are located in areas north of the Litani River, according to Israeli army assessments, after it destroyed the group’s infrastructure in the border villages.
There have been limited attempts to restore capabilities in the border villages, to which displaced Lebanese civilians have not yet returned, according to the Israeli military.
Israeli military officials also claimed that Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem received several “requests” -- not “orders” -- from Iran to join the war against Israel in June but declined.
The Israeli military also said that it assesses that Hezbollah senses low confidence inside the group in acting against Israel at this time, and is more focused on trying to restore its capabilities, an effort that could be harmed further should it attack Israel.
Speaking to reporters at the army post in Lebanon, Gordin said, “I believe it would be very wise and beneficial for the state of Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah. The greatest damage Lebanon has suffered was because of Hezbollah, and it would be best if it no longer existed.”
“We will stay here for as long as needed and will provide strong and significant defense for the residents of the north,” Gordin said. Israeli officials have previously said that the Israeli army would only withdraw from the five points in Lebanon if Hezbollah disarms.
As of Tuesday, 74% of Israelis displaced from north Israel have returned to their homes. In some settlements like Metula and Manara, very few residents have returned.
“I believe the security situation on the northern border is very good. The threats are very far away, and there are no immediate threats to the border area, the communities, or the residents. I think it’s been decades since we’ve had a security situation as good as the one we have today,” Gordin added.
Source: Naharnet
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