Israel’s Defense Minister Claims Half of Hezbollah Commanders Eliminated, Analysts Skeptical
Israel’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, made a bold statement during a visit to Israeli troops along the northern border with Lebanon, claiming that half of Hezbollah’s commanders in southern Lebanon have been eliminated. However, analysts are casting doubt on the effectiveness of Israel’s increasing use of targeted killings in weakening the militant group.
Hezbollah, a powerful regional proxy of Iran based in Lebanon, has been engaged in intense cross-border clashes with Israeli forces since the Hamas-led attacks in Israel on Oct. 7. With no signs of the conflict abating and diplomatic talks failing to result in a cease-fire, Israel has ramped up targeted strikes on Hezbollah fighters in recent months, signaling a shift in military strategy.
Despite Mr. Gallant’s assertion, a Hezbollah official and a senior Lebanese intelligence official, speaking anonymously, denied the defense minister’s numbers. Lebanese political analyst Kassem Kassir, who is close to Hezbollah, dismissed the claim as psychological warfare aimed at boosting morale among the Israeli public.
Experts are skeptical that Israel’s targeted killings can achieve the goal of pushing Hezbollah north of the Litani River in Lebanon to prevent further cross-border attacks. While Israel has publicly named nine Hezbollah fighters it has eliminated since Oct. 7, the claims have not been independently verified.
Hezbollah rarely releases details about its slain fighters, but analysts note that the group’s responses to targeted strikes can indicate the significance of the fighters killed. Despite the losses, Hezbollah is believed to have a deep bench of fighters and commanders, making it resilient in the face of Israeli attacks.
Military analyst Elias Hanna, a former brigadier general in the Lebanese Army, believes that Israel’s pivot to targeted assassinations will not significantly impact Hezbollah’s operations. The ongoing conflict between the two sides is characterized as a war of attrition and positional warfare.
In response to recent Israeli airstrikes that killed two Hezbollah commanders, the militant group carried out a drone and missile attack in northern Israel, resulting in casualties among Israeli soldiers and civilians. The attack underscored the ongoing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, with no end to the conflict in sight.
As the situation continues to unfold, analysts and experts will closely monitor the developments between Israel and Hezbollah, assessing the impact of targeted killings on the militant group’s capabilities and the overall security situation in the region.
