Nine months into Israel's northern campaign, Hezbollah has suffered considerable losses. However, security experts warn that the organization still poses a serious threat to Israeli security.
Tal Beeri, head of research at the Alma Research and Education Center, which specializes in Israel's security challenges on the northern borders, offered his analysis in a recent interview with Israel Hayom.
"While we've disrupted the Radwan Force's major infiltration plans, we can't rule out the possibility of Hezbollah covertly moving 100 operatives to exploit a weak point along the border," Beeri cautioned.
He noted that Hezbollah has maintained consistent rocket fire into Israel, with fluctuations in anti-tank attacks and a marked increase in drone activity. "The first line of defense primarily aims to prevent infiltration, but it doesn't significantly impact Hezbollah's overall capabilities," Beeri explained.
The security expert emphasized that the threat from Hezbollah persists regardless of the Radwan Force's proximity to the border. "They have the ability to secretly reposition their forces to staging areas when needed," he said.
Addressing the impact of Israel's counteractions, Beeri stated, "From Hezbollah's perspective, the damage they've sustained isn't severe enough to prevent them from engaging in a full-scale conflict with Israel. Their operational capabilities remain largely intact, as evidenced by their continued attacks."
Beeri pointed out that while Israel has neutralized approximately 360 Hezbollah operatives, this represents only a fraction of the organization's estimated 50,000-strong force. "Our efforts so far, while significant, haven't been decisive enough to fundamentally alter the strategic balance," he concluded.
