Battle with Hezbollah now is a strategic defeat: Ex-Gen Yitzhak Brik
4 Min Read
Israeli retired Major General Yitzhak Brik paints a grim reality for the Israeli occupation when it comes to Lebanon and Gaza, stressing that the occupation would suffer an astounding defeat.
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Israeli firefighters work to extinguish a fire burning in an area near the community of Ramot Naftali, near the Lebanese border, northern occupied Palestine, June 4, 2024 (AP)
Retired Major General Yitzhak Brick, who previously served as the Commissioner for Soldiers' Complaints, voiced deep concerns over the Israeli occupation's aggression on Gaza and warned of severe consequences if the war extends to the northern front with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
General Brick admitted that the Israeli occupation had faced significant losses in Gaza, emphasizing that if the situation escalates to a confrontation with Hezbollah, it could lead to a strategic defeat for "Israel".
Criticizing the current military strategy as ineffective, he pointed out that despite extensive bombardments over eight months, Hamas' underground tunnel network remains largely intact, and the Resistance movement has replenished its ranks.
Furthermore, Brick accused the IOF's spokesperson of providing misleading information regarding the effectiveness of the operations in Gaza and the number of Hamas casualties. He highlighted that Hamas fighters are not engaging in direct combat, making it challenging for Israeli forces to inflict substantial damage.
High-ranking officers in the field, according to Brick, are covertly advocating for a ceasefire to reorganize and resupply. The IOF is exhausted, with depleted ammunition and fatigued equipment, and there is a growing reluctance among reservists to rejoin the fight, he stressed.
Iran to intervene
Brick also warned that entering into a full-scale war with Hezbollah could escalate into a regional conflict involving Iran. He noted that the recent attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria has solidified Iran as a primary adversary, with the potential of daily rocket and drone attacks on the Israeli occupation. He expressed doubts about the IOF's current capacity to conduct a successful ground invasion in Lebanon due to logistical and maintenance challenges.
The general painted a grim picture of the potential impact on "Israel" of a war with Hezbollah, predicting widespread destruction of infrastructure, including power and water supplies, and significant casualties among Israelis.
This comes just after Israeli national security expert Kobi Marom expressed deep concerns about the future of the IOF and the broader implications for Israeli society.
Marom highlighted alarming statistics regarding the IOF's manpower, suggesting that these should worry every Israeli amid a decade of unprecedented security challenges.
Discussing the Israeli occupation's position on the global stage, Marom noted, "I believe Iran is observing the situation over the past nine months with great satisfaction. They see American weakness and Israel's failure on October 7, which has emboldened Iran. The situation in the north is also tied to Hamas' survival conditions," he added.
Waning, limited capabilities
The Financial Times reported last week that US officials had issued a warning to the Israeli occupation regarding its "limited ability to defend itself" if it were to engage in an open war with Hezbollah.
The report describes Hezbollah as one of the most heavily armed non-state actors in the world, highlighting the difficulty the Israeli occupation would face were it ever to engage in such an endeavor.
According to the newspaper, diplomats have conveyed that both the Israeli occupation and Hezbollah have informed the United States of their mutual desire to avoid a full-scale war.
Meanwhile, Newsweek said another war between "Israel" and the Lebanese Resistance, Hezbollah, could bring "untold devastation" to both and would be Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's greatest obstacle yet.
Although it would not be the first, Israeli officials are worried the situation could lead to total disaster in the region.
