Israel – Hezbollah War: Israeli invasion of Lebanon – what is at stake?

Lebanon became the main location for Palestinian refugees after the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. The refugees include Palestinian militias such as the PLO.

These militias attack Israel from Lebanon, which could lead to conflict between the two countries. In response to an attack by a Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) paramilitary group, Israel invaded Lebanon for the first time in 1978 and seized a bus after they landed on the beach. The violence leaves 38 Israeli civilians dead, in what is known in Israel as the Coastal Road Massacre.

Israeli forces invade southern Lebanon and withdraw two months later. They manage to hide within the neighbor and stay until the year 2000.

This first invasion killed up to 2,000 combatants and civilians on the Lebanese side. On the Israeli side, 18 soybeans died.

Israel’s main operation in Lebanon took place in 1982 during the Lebanese Civil War.

Thousands of Israeli soldiers, along with hundreds of tanks and armored vehicles, cross the border, mainly to push back the PLO and attack Israel from Lebanon.

The Israelis’ goal is to attack PLO positions to stop them from attacking Israel.

Israeli forces advance on several fronts and manage to reach the outskirts of the capital Beirut within a week.

During the attack, Israeli troops were responsible for the massacre of Palestinian refugees.

Three months later, the Israelis withdraw and create a buffer zone in Lebanon.

On the Lebanese side, up to 20,000 Pipo die, mostly civilians. On the Israeli side, 654 soybeans die.

Israeli invasion in 1982, they succeed in ousting the PLO, they move their headquarters from Lebanon to Tunisia. But after the paramilitary group Hezbollah began launching the offensive, they also consider Israel an enemy and are trying to attack them.

In April 1996, Israeli forces took action against Hezbollah for the first time in response to rocket attacks by the Di Group. The attack was limited to an operation that lasted only two weeks.

Civilians suffer again – thirteen Hezbollah fighters and up to 250 civilians die on the Lebanese side. Israel suffers no losses.

Israel and Hezbollah do not still agree on how to deal with each other, such as rocket attacks by Islamist militants and bombings by the Israeli Air Force.

The one for July 2006. Hezbollah fighters not only shell Israeli towns across the border, but also cross the border and attack two military vehicles, killing eight soldiers and taking two hostage.

Israel responded with massive air strikes and artillery fire on targets throughout Lebanon, with air and naval blockades and a ground invasion of southern Lebanon.

The war lasted 34 days and ended with a ceasefire.

Approximately 1,191 Pipo die in Lebanon, the majority of whom are civilians. On the Israeli side, 121 soldiers and 44 civilians die.

Israel’s actions against Hezbollah do not change the balance between the two countries for the time being, according to Jeremy Bowen, editor of BBC International: “… in recent weeks Israel has destroyed the Hezbollah organization and destroyed half of its weapons.” American and Israeli authorities; and invade Lebanon.”

Israeli military analyst Yoav Stern told the BBC that I believe there is something similar With the 2006 strategy, with a limited attack, we set the tone again at this time – in contrast to the massive deployment of 1982.

“We will carry out a slow, careful and calculated invasion, including occupying cities in southern Lebanon one by one, rather than launching a rapid and comprehensive invasion along two main axes,” Stern said.

I would also like to say that Hezbollah has long been stationed in cities in southern Lebanon to prevent the possibility of Israel occupying these cities and quickly leaving them.

However, the difference between the situation in Lebanon and the Israeli campaign for Gaza after the Hamas attacks on October 7 is that it appears that Israel is militarily fit and is not reducing Hamas resistance.

The situation in Lebanon has become more difficult despite successful attacks on Hezbollah’s infrastructure and leadership.

“Hezbollah is not Hamas: it is damaged but still well-armed and strategically placed,” says Professor Amin Saikal, a Middle East expert at the Australian National University.

“This group is capable of endless resistance against the Israeli occupation. The destruction comes at a high human and material cost to the Jewish state,” I explain.

Jeremy Bowen says Israel is still failing to achieve one of the key objectives of its Gaza campaign.

“By all accounts, Hezbollah is receiving vast tunnel networks and facilities for southern Lebanon. One of their military intentions was to invade Gaza to dismantle the Hamas tunnel network, and almost a year later the Neva came.”