Was the IDF ready for Hezbollah on October 7? Galil Division commander Shai Klapper's answer inside

Outgoing Galil Division commander Shai Klapper gave an interview to Army Radio today (Sunday), where he explained his thoughts, fears, and feelings about the period before, during, and after October 7 in the north.

Klapper said that he had demanded additional manpower in the period leading up to October 7, saying that he wasn't sure if he "banged on the table" for more reinforcements whether he'd get a broken table or more troops.

But what if Hezbollah had joined in the fight with Hamas by the afternoon of October 7, as Yahya Sinwar wanted?

Klapper said that by the afternoon, the artillery fire brigade was deployed. By 6 PM, three brigades were deployed. Within 24 hours, seven brigades were deployed in three lines of defense.

Despite this, Klapper says that although Hezbollah would not have been able to penetrate as deeply and easily as Hamas did that day, they might have had "some successes" in capturing parts of Israeli territory had they concentrated forces and attacked weaker spots.

Klapper said that the IDF attack against Hezbollah was ultimately a success, killing far more terrorists than in 2006 and causing far more destruction to their capabilities, though he notes that "the IDF was stretched to the limit."