Hezbollah's Response: A Persistent Strategy to Bolster Power While Compromising Lebanese Safety
Hezbollah's brief "euphoria" quickly dissipated when confronted with the Israeli military's large-scale assault, which involved a hundred warplanes. Despite the extensive propaganda proclaiming victory, Hezbollah was unable to secure any substantial accomplishments. Despite grand claims, the outcome was simply a reversion to attrition policies that did nothing to alter the balance of power. Instead, it perpetuated the precarious situation in Lebanon caused by the party's hostile policies.
On the Arbaeen anniversary of Imam Hussein (A.S), Hezbollah attempted to exploit the occasion by disseminating false threats, alleging that they would target locations around Tel Aviv and promising to bomb them again if required. Nevertheless, despite deploying drones from the Bekaa, Hezbollah's efforts had no substantial impact against the Israeli military's superiority, which continues to dominate the airspace and impose its conditions.
Despite Hezbollah's assertion that the rules of engagement have been reinstated following the assassination of Fouad Shukr, the situation reveals a reduction in the party’s influence and its capacity to respond effectively.
Even the delayed response, requested by Hamas, amounted to nothing more than a failed attempt by the party’s leadership to regain lost legitimacy at a time when both the party and its allies face growing international isolation. The response, which involved the use of Katyusha rockets and some drones, introduced no new elements and merely served as an attempt to project strength to the party’s domestic audience. Meanwhile, Israel continues to exert its air and technological dominance, diminishing the impact of these actions.
In the realm of media propaganda, the party persisted in disseminating false information about attacking sensitive sites within Israel, alleging that the Israeli government was obstructing journalists from inspecting Base 8200. This was an attempt to deflect attention from the party’s failure to effect any substantive change.
Regarding the drone and tunnel conflict, the surprises the party claims to possess are merely hollow threats that no longer intimidate anyone. If the party genuinely had the capability to engage in a full-scale war with Israel, it would have done so months ago, rather than resorting to ineffective attrition strategies.
Despite the party’s efforts to uphold the image of the "resistance" defending Lebanese civilians, the reality is that its reckless policies are endangering the country further and paving the way for new waves of assassinations and internal conflicts.
As the region enters a new phase of attrition and stalled negotiations, Hezbollah appears poised to persist in sacrificing Lebanon's interests for the sake of a limited regional agenda, without securing any substantial victories, while Israel maintains its undisputed control.
