Following a series of blows suffered by Hezbollah, the Resistance remarkably demonstrated its ability to regroup and recover, displaying its resilience through its continued operations and launches deep into occupied territories and the maneuvers it is carrying out at the southern Lebanese border, curbing "Israel's" ground invasion, an op-ed published in The Washington Post discusses. 

At the start of the so-called limited Israeli "ground operation" in Lebanon, military officials quickly realized that what should have been a couple-weeks-long operation would have to extend for a few more weeks, triggering concerns over the mission creep due to precedents with Hezbollah, particularly during the 2006 July war. 

Only a few days later, Hezbollah managed to launch an undetected and unintercepted drone from Lebanon that made an impact directly on its target: Benjamin Netanyahu's bedroom in Caesarea, after declaring that a new escalatory phase had commenced. 

The Resistance group was able to make a quick recovery, according to Lebanese officials, due to the command structure of its leadership and years of preparation for a possible Israeli invasion.

The threat of Hezbollah

The authors explore the ground invasion in more detail, highlighting that Hezbollah's operations prevent the Israeli occupation forces from advancing no more than four or five kilometers into Lebanese territories. 

In this context, an IOF official described Hezbollah as a "formidable foe", emphasizing the Resistance fighters' skills and competence on the battlefield, which have tremendously improved since the 2006 war and the combat in Syria, as well as the advanced arsenal they now possess. 

One Lebanese official thereby compared Hezbollah's structure to a Russian doll, saying, “You think it’s one thing, but when you open, it’s many, all independent.”

Despite field observations, "Israel" seems to be hopeful and insists that its occupation forces managed to allegedly destroy a significant portion of Hezbollah's strongholds across Lebanon. However, the rocket launches and operations have not ceased and have rather only intensified, reaching in some instances some 150 rockets launched toward occupied territories and soldiers daily. 

Moreover, the authors stress that the Lebanese Resistance has not yet uncovered its long-range and potentially deadlier weapons. 

'Victory is but a whisker away'

On Thursday, in a heartfelt message to the people of Lebanon, the fighters of the Islamic Resistance expressed their gratitude for the unwavering support and prayers of the community. The statement, filled with expressions of appreciation and resolve, emphasized that the connection between the fighters and the people strengthens their steadfastness and will in the face of ongoing aggression.

"From the shade of each tree, beside every rock, from within each valley and atop every hill and mountain, and from within the hearts of every fighter among us, thank you for your prayers and salutations, which have eased the struggles," the fighters expressed. They conveyed thanks to every member of society—mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, children, and elders—who have played a role in bolstering their spirits.

The fighters also sought to reassure the people, stating, "Victory is but a whisker away." They referred to the people as "the Resistance", underlining their pivotal role in the broader struggle for liberation and calling them a "trust" bestowed upon them by martyr Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, thus emphasizing their commitment to protecting them no matter the sacrifices required.

"We are doing well, by virtue of God," the message assured, likening the fighters' strength to the mountains, on whose slopes they continue "destroying the enemy's tanks and soldiers." The statement alluded that the letter in and of itself was cosigned by the elite Hezbollah units, including Badr, Nasr, Radwan, and Aziz, all of whom are participating in the ongoing battles.

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