The New York Times revealed today that Israel's success against Hezbollah has far exceeded US intelligence expectations, delivering unprecedented damage to the Lebanese organization's capabilities and leadership.
According to the report, Israel has achieved significantly more than American intelligence analysts anticipated, successfully eliminating substantial portions of both Hezbollah's political and military leadership structure. In a particularly notable achievement, Israel has managed to destroy 60-70% of Hezbollah's drone arsenal, effectively neutralizing a persistent threat that had challenged Israeli forces for months.
At the same time, Hezbollah still has about 20,000-40,000 fighters who have not yet been assigned to the campaign, indicating that the organization is preparing for a protracted war.
However, US officials maintain that completely eliminating Hezbollah's rocket array remains impossible. Despite Israel's considerable success, American analysts suggest that a ceasefire represents the most practical path toward returning northern residents to their homes.
The revelations come as discussions of a potential northern border arrangement progress.
This assessment marks a significant shift in understanding Israel's military effectiveness against Hezbollah, particularly regarding the drone threat that had previously gone unchallenged for months.
