Media: Israel faces setback in campaign against Hezbollah rocket threat in north

Israel has struggled to eliminate Hezbollah’s short-range rockets, which continue to pose a threat to northern Israel, leaving one of Israel's primary goals—ensuring the return of tens of thousands of evacuated residents—unmet.

According to US officials, the ongoing rocket fire from Hezbollah into northern Israel is preventing the fulfilment of this goal, Caliber.Az reports per The New York Times.

The Lebanese militia began launching rockets into northern Israel in support of Hamas after its attacks on Israel in October 2023. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has been partially driven by political pressure from evacuated Israeli civilians.

Despite Israel’s success in degrading Hezbollah’s capabilities, the threat of short-range rockets remains, forcing Israel’s government to consider a cease-fire. American officials have pointed to the possibility of an agreement with Hezbollah, with US envoy Amos Hochstein arriving in Beirut to discuss the details. “This is a moment of decision-making,” Hochstein said, emphasizing the urgency of reaching a deal.

Israeli military actions have significantly degraded Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, according to Brett Holmgren, acting director of the National Counterterrorism Center. However, despite these setbacks, Hezbollah retains the ability to fire up to 100 missiles or rockets a day into northern Israel. US intelligence officials worry that Hezbollah has yet to deploy up to 40,000 fighters, suggesting a potential guerrilla campaign in southern Lebanon.

The threat to Israeli civilians remains high, especially in the two-mile zone along the border with Lebanon, where over 60,000 residents were evacuated. Many will not return until they are assured that any cease-fire will secure northern Israel from Hezbollah’s fighters, particularly by keeping them north of the Litani River. This would significantly reduce the risk of rocket fire and antitank missile attacks.

The conflict has also displaced tens of thousands of Lebanese civilians, with American officials emphasizing the need for a cease-fire to allow people on both sides of the border to return home.

The Lebanese militia, with the aid of Iran, built up a massive stockpile of 120,000 to 200,000 projectiles, much of which remains intact. Despite Israel’s efforts, including the elimination of key Hezbollah leaders, the group’s arsenal and military presence remain formidable.

Israeli forces have made progress in their efforts, including destroying a significant portion of Hezbollah’s drone capabilities and killing over 2,250 Hezbollah operatives in the past six weeks. However, US officials concede that it may be impossible to fully eliminate the threat of short-range rockets, leaving a large part of northern Israel vulnerable.

In response, Israel has continued to ramp up its military operations, hoping to achieve the goal of eliminating Hezbollah’s military infrastructure near the border. Israeli military spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani reported that over 2,250 Hezbollah operatives had been killed, while 40 Israeli soldiers have died during the operation.

As the conflict progresses, both Israeli and Lebanese civilians are anxiously awaiting a resolution, with a cease-fire viewed as the most viable option for restoring peace and safety to the region.

By Aghakazim Guliyev