Current Israeli strategy won't restore North, says top Israeli general

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
22 Sep 2024 19:05
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Former Israeli Air Force commander Brig.-Gen. (res.) Zvika Haimovich says that "Israel's" tactical operations are insufficient to compel Hezbollah to agree to a truce.

Israeli forces work at the site hit by a rocket fired from Lebanon, in Kiryat Bialik, northern occupied Palestine, on Sept. 22, 2024. (AP)

Former Israeli Air Force commander Brig.-Gen. (res.) Zvika Haimovich highlighted the extent of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's current failure in military strategy against Hezbollah in a Sunday interview for Maariv.

He noted that "Israel's" recent strikes on the movement do not align with the government's objectives to restore stability in the North.

This comes shortly after the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon - Hezbollah carried out three operations this morning against targets in occupied Palestine in response to the massacres committed by "Israel" this past week against Lebanese civilians.

Concurrently, the Israeli cabinet has set a goal to facilitate the return of evacuated settlers to the North. Haimovich questioned how this objective could be achieved in light of Israeli tactical actions, asking, "How will the goal to restore the North be possible following such tactical moves?"

"We’ve seen cyber and psychological operations on Tuesday and Wednesday, and on Friday, the targeted killing of Ibrahim Aqil. But the question is, are these tactical actions really part of achieving the larger goal?" Haimovich stated.

He also commented on Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's televised speech on Thursday, where he promised to take revenge on "Israel" for the double electronic attack.

"For the first time, Nasrallah admitted, 'We suffered the hardest blow.' But just a moment later, he doubled down on his long-standing position since the war began: Israel is caught in a multi-front conflict. His doctrine is clear—if Gaza is quiet, Hezbollah will hold fire as well. For him, the war of attrition is the right path," Haimovich said.

Haimovich highlighted that although "Israel’s" tactical operations have been "impressive", they fall short of pressuring Sayyed Nasrallah into agreeing to a truce. He stated, "These actions, successful as they are, won't change his position."

Advocating for genocide in Lebanon

Haimovich further discussed "Israel’s" overarching military strategy, suggesting that more decisive measures are necessary to effect change in the situation.

"Israel has already broken some of the old paradigms with its offensive actions, like the strikes in Dahiya [Hezbollah's stronghold in Beirut]. But now we need to ask, how do we build on this? There’s a middle ground between a full-scale ground maneuver and a war of attrition. What we’re doing now doesn’t fit either," he said.

Haimovich proposed a more targeted approach, stating that "Israel could take control of southern Lebanon without crossing into Beirut or Baalbek. There are thousands of Hezbollah targets in that area, both above and below ground, and they hold long-range, precision-guided weapons. We could strike hundreds of these targets over the course of five or six days—that would send a strong message. But the current, smaller-scale tactical strikes won’t push Nasrallah from his entrenched position."

He also emphasized the complexity of the situation on multiple fronts, stating, "We need to understand that Gaza is not the key to resolving this. It’s just a temporary distraction, a way to separate the northern and southern theaters. The real focus should be on the North and the broader regional picture, especially regarding Iran."

Additionally, Haimovich pointed out the disparity between Israeli public statements and its military actions, stating, "We’ve entered the second phase in the North, but we haven’t clearly communicated that Gaza is now secondary. The primary front is the North. This mismatch between what’s said and what’s done creates confusion."

He argued that "Israel" must clarify its objectives and strategy.

"We need to ask ourselves, what are our goals, and what strategic steps are we taking to achieve them? If we don’t adjust our approach, the war of attrition will continue," he said.

Haimovich cautioned that "Israel" must be prepared for a response from Hezbollah that could violate the current “unwritten rules” between the two sides.

"We need to prepare for the possibility that Hezbollah will strike beyond the usual scope—whether that’s drones targeting Haifa, national infrastructure in places like Hadera or Tel Aviv, or a combination of the two. We must also stay alert to other potential fronts, as I believe there is coordination between Iran and Hezbollah. Any response could include unresolved issues from Iran as well," Haimovich warned.