CNN Analysis: Why Hezbollah is not Hamas

The hostilities between Lebanon and Lebanon are constantly increasing, as Israel proceeds to air attacks and covert operations, while Hezbollah responds with rocket launches and more sophisticated weapons attacks. The main question that arises is whether Israel can withstand a second war, the one with Zezbollah, even when it is already at war with Hamas in Gaza. Experts argue that things here are more complicated and that they will face a much stronger threat than Hamas at the cost. As of October 8, one day after Hamas attacked Israel, the exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israeli forces are daily. Hezbollah, protesting the Gaza war, began the attacks demanding the ceasefire. However, conflicts have escalated significantly last week, with Israel initially targeting Hezbollah’s communications systems. After sabotage on the pagers, radios, and other electronic systems that caused significant loss of Hezbollah men, Israel launched targeted air bombings in Lebanese cities. Israel has a clearly superior army in relation to Hezbollah, but the organization, which is supported by Iran, has missiles with a range of up to 500 km. They will have to bypass Israel’s Iron Dome defense system to cause damage. “Hezbollah is not Hamas,” said Yoel Guzansky, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) in Tel Aviv, who served on the Israel National Security Council under three prime ministers. Hezbollah is “a state within the state” with far more sophisticated military capabilities, she told . Hezbollah, one of the most powerful armed organizations in the world, is a much more dangerous threat to Israel than Hamas. The organization is supported by Iran and has an extremely sophisticated arsenal that includes thousands of long-range missiles. It is estimated that Hezbollah has 120,000 to 200,000 rockets and missiles at its disposal, while the weekend first used Fadi 1 and Fadi 2 ballistic missiles that can hit targets over long distances. Hezbollah attacks also include targeting critical Israel infrastructure, such as Ramat David air base, about 30 miles from the Lebanon border. According to Orna Mizrahi , special in Hezbollah from the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), Israel has been able to fight on two fronts for a long time, but this depends on continued U.S. support at gun and ammunition level. However, this will require a different strategy from Israel, with limited means and military force available. Israel, as a small state, has no unlimited resources and military power. The management of two wars at the same time inevitably means the redistribution of military forces. Israeli military leadership has already transferred units from Gaza’s front to the northern border, with Defence Minister Joav Galland, stating that the “center of weight moves to the north”. One of the most important units that has been transferred is the 98th Division, one of Israel’s elite paratrooper forces. However, despite strengthening presence at the northern border, shortages in military personnel and equipment are now evident. At the beginning of the war with Hamas, Israel had enlisted some 295 000 reservists to strengthen its lines, but these figures prove inadequate for current needs. At the same time, the prolonged war has greatly burdened the staff, with 715 soldiers having lost their lives since October 7, including soldiers fighting on the northern border. Israel’s military and economic deterioration is becoming apparent, with many analysts warning that Hezbollah and Iran are pursuing precisely this: the gradual depletion of Israel’s resources and military power. The war has not only affected Israel’s military forces, but also its economy that is in free fall. The first effects were felt from the early days of Hamas’ attack, when thousands of operations closed, as the reactionary soldiers abandoned their jobs. The country’s economy has suffered a serious blow, with forecasts showing a 4.1% contraction in the early months of the war. Israel’s military spending has increased dramatically, with the Bank of Israel’s commander warning that the war is expected to cost the country up to 67 billion dollars between 2023 and 2025. The prospect of a second war, particularly if it is disastrous for Lebanon, could exacerbate international criticism of Israel, which is already facing charges of war crimes and genocide by international organisations, charges that Israel categorically denies, notes the same report. Inside, support for the war has begun to weaken. Although at the beginning of the conflict with Hamas, many Israelis were in favour of continuing hostilities, the latest polls show that public opinion has changed.