Hezbollah establishes new command to counter Israeli offensive

Hezbollah is gearing up for a sustained war of attrition in southern Lebanon following significant Israeli attacks that have decimated its leadership, including the assassination of its chief, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

According to two sources familiar with the group's operations who spoke to Reuters, Hezbollah has established a new military command tasked with overseeing rocket fire and ground operations, Caliber.Az reports.

In the wake of three weeks of relentless Israeli offensives, which Israel claims have severely weakened Hezbollah's capabilities, the Iran-backed group still possesses a substantial arsenal of weaponry, including powerful precision missiles that have yet to be deployed. Observers, both allies and adversaries, are closely monitoring Hezbollah's ability to withstand the incursion of Israeli forces into Lebanon, which aims to push the militant group away from the border.

Following Nasrallah's assassination on September 27, along with other key leaders and an Iranian commander in an Israeli airstrike on his fortified bunker in Beirut, Hezbollah's command structure faced disruptions. However, within 72 hours, Shi'ite militants successfully established a new "operations room," allowing them to resume coordinated attacks despite ongoing Israeli strikes, according to a Hezbollah field commander and another source close to the organization.

The new command centre has continued to function effectively, enabling fighters in southern Lebanon to launch rockets and engage in combat based on centrally issued directives. A senior official associated with Hezbollah characterized the group's current strategy as one of attrition.

Israeli analyst Avraham Levine noted that Hezbollah appears to be "well prepared and waiting" for Israeli troops, making them a formidable adversary. He remarked that, despite the disruption in leadership, Hezbollah retains the capability to strike Israeli communities and engage Israeli forces, emphasizing that the group remains a "powerful terror army."

According to the Hezbollah field commander, the newly formed command operates in utmost secrecy and maintains a direct connection to front-line fighters. He described the command as a "narrow circle" capable of executing orders based on battlefield conditions. The group's communications rely heavily on a dedicated fixed-line phone network, which has reportedly withstood prior attacks.

In a recent statement, the "operations room of the Islamic Resistance" declared that Hezbollah fighters are actively resisting Israeli incursions, monitoring enemy movements from concealed positions. 

By Tamilla Hasanova