In light of the ongoing Israeli military escalation in southern Lebanon, and despite the extension of the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, Hezbollah is preparing to reintroduce old combat tactics into the confrontation, which include activating "martyrdom groups." This was confirmed by a military leader within the party during a conversation with Al Jazeera, where he indicated that the party plans to deploy "large groups of martyrs in the occupied area, according to pre-prepared plans."
The leader explained that the mission of the martyrs is to "engage with enemy officers and soldiers in the occupied Lebanese villages." This announcement is part of a strategy aimed at reviving Israeli memories of what occurred in the 1980s and 1990s when the Israeli army was present in Lebanon, as explained by Lebanese military and strategic expert Brigadier General Hassan Jouni.
Details of the Event
Brigadier General Jouni noted that military operations during that period resulted in daily or weekly casualties among the Israeli army, making Hezbollah's announcement a psychological warning to the enemy. Additionally, the newly established "blue line" that Israel seeks to solidify brings to mind what was known as the "buffer zone," from which Israel was forced to withdraw in 2000 after 18 years of occupation.
The buffer zone was a border strip established by Israel 10-20 kilometers deep into southern Lebanon, under the pretext of protecting its northern borders, before being compelled to withdraw from it under the pressure of Lebanese resistance. In this context, Brigadier General Jouni emphasized that Hezbollah's announcement aimed to remind Israel that they occupied southern Lebanon for a long time, yet they never settled there for a single day.
Background & Context
Historically, Israel occupied parts of southern Lebanon in 1978, then occupied Beirut in 1982, and continued its presence in the south until 2000. The tactics of Lebanese resistance in the 1980s were characterized by the use of "martyrdom" operations, in addition to ambushes and exploiting geography to surprise the Israeli army.
These tactics target military personnel through operations based on infiltration and entering enemy ranks, setting traps and ambushes. The martyrdom operations had a significant impact on the occupying army, leading to hundreds of casualties among its soldiers.
Impact & Consequences
The promise of using martyrdom operations is not new to Hezbollah, as the party's former Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah, frequently mentioned this weapon in his speeches. Nasrallah affirmed during a celebration marking "Hezbollah Martyr's Day" in 2015 that "the martyrdom spirit is our strongest weapon against the enemy and the immense American support for Israel's arsenal."
These tactics coincide with a battlefield reality that closely resembles what was known as the "buffer zone," but with a significant difference in the weapons and technologies used. Brigadier General Jouni points out that Hezbollah's resort to these old tactics comes in the context of confronting an occupation that is firmly established on the ground.
Regional Significance
These tactics target the field and the political or societal depth in Israel, which may lead to a psychological impact on Israeli society. The psychological impact on Israeli society was so effective that it was the community that chose Ehud Barak, who promised them a withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah can carry out these operations for an extended period, as it possesses the will and experience, and these operations do not require advanced weapons but benefit from the element of time. This means that Hezbollah is attempting to reshape the rules of engagement by shifting from a war of "military elites" and smart weapons to a "war of wills" and direct engagement.