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A katyusha rocket launched by Hezbollah into Israel during the Second War in Lebanon. Photo:
Wikipedia.
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During the Second Lebanon War in 2006, Hezbollah fired 160 rockets
every day at Israel. Today, Hezbollah has an estimated arsenal of
150,000 rockets, which it plans to use against Israel as soon as the
moment is right.
Hezbollah might focus on strategic targets, like industry or
airfields. Or it might focus on civilians, and inflict more damage to an
Israeli city than any other Arab military has done since 1948.
During the 2006 war, 200,000 Israelis had to flee from northern
Israel due to the rocket attacks. But in the next war with Hezbollah,
all of Israel will be in range of the group’s rockets — as Hezbollah now
has several thousand 220 millimeter and 302 millimeter rockets, with a
range of up to 150 kilometers. It also has the M-600, which can hit
targets up to 300 kilometers away.
As far as we know, Hezbollah has not obtained chemical weapons from
Bashar al-Assad. But Hezbollah could launch its conventional rockets at
the chemical industry in Haifa, which would bring a huge disaster to one
of the most populated cities in Israel.
In spite of its strength, Hezbollah has been worn down due to its
involvement in the Syrian civil war. Israel should exploit
this vulnerability, and launch a pre-emptive attack to get rid of the
rockets in Lebanon before they are fired at Israel. This action might be
difficult to explain not only to the international community, but to
the Israeli public as well. Considering the possible high price of such a
war for Israel, it is essential for the government to convince the
population that its actions were unavoidable.
The fragile status quo between Israel and Hezbollah might
theoretically continue, since both sides say they don’t seek war. Yet a
war might happen anyway as a result of one severe incident on the border
or the mutual suspicion and miscalculations by one or both sides.
The IDF should continue to prepare to launch a massive land, air and
sea offensive in Lebanon. We must do whatever possible to stop
Hezbollah.
