The Lebanese Front: A Significant Increase in Military Operations
Brown land
The Lebanese front has witnessed a significant increase in the pace, number, and nature of military operations in recent days, a move that surprised Hezbollah’s adversaries, who had believed the group was no longer as strong as it had been after the loss of its leadership.
This trend was particularly evident on Wednesday, March 25, when Hezbollah carried out 87 operations against Israeli forces and targets. This represents the highest number of operations ever recorded in a 24-hour period, whether since the beginning of the current war or the Gaza war that began in 2023. The previous record was set on March 23 with 63 operations, and the one before that with 57 on March 22.
For comparison, the period from March 17 to 23 saw 329 Lebanese operations, resulting in the destruction of 27 military vehicles, while 222 operations took place between March 10 and 16, destroying 11 military vehicles (not to mention numerous missile and drone attacks). Yesterday alone witnessed the destruction of at least 18 military vehicles, including tanks, Humvees, and military bulldozers, in addition to intense rocket and drone strikes. Last night, Hezbollah launched a qualitative attack on Tel Aviv, targeting the headquarters of the Israeli Ministry of Defense and Military Intelligence with ballistic missiles. As of this writing, since this morning, resistance fighters have destroyed or damaged eight more tanks in southern Lebanon, bringing the total to 26 vehicles in less than 48 hours.
To inform the public about some details of the military operations, the party’s media office released a statement last night explaining what transpired during the fierce battles in one of the Lebanese regions. The report stated the following:
“On Tuesday, March 26, 2006, forces from the 7th Brigade of the 36th Division of the Israeli enemy army deployed a remotely controlled bulldozer between the Al-Muhaysibat area in Taybeh and the town of Qantara, with the aim of reconnaissance and identifying the positions of the Islamic Resistance’s defenses. The Mujahideen observed the bulldozer and gave it time to lure the enemy into a well-prepared ambush. At 6:50 PM on Wednesday, an armored company advanced in a longitudinal formation from the direction of Al-Muhaysibat towards the town of Qantara in preparation for capturing it. The Mujahideen, who were monitoring the enemy’s movements, waited until all its vehicles were within the established firing range. Upon receiving the order, and with the cry of ‘O Messenger of God,’ the skilled gunners launched their guided missiles at the middle platoon of the formation, consisting of four Merkava tanks and a D9 bulldozer, hitting them with precision and destroying them. Meanwhile, the rear platoon…” The convoy, consisting of four Merkava tanks, launched a thick smoke screen to conceal its position. The Mujahideen immediately countered with guided missiles, completely destroying the convoy before the very eyes of the enemy, who witnessed the tanks burning. Simultaneously, artillery support groups from the resistance targeted the command headquarters of enemy battalions positioned in the Taybeh Project, Rab Thalathin, and al-Uwaydah, as well as reinforcements brought in to evacuate the wounded.
The vanguard attempted to advance towards the entrance of the town of al-Qantara, but our Mujahideen engaged them with direct missile fire, destroying a D9 bulldozer and a Merkava tank. They also destroyed a second tank near the water tank, forcing the enemy soldiers to abandon their remaining vehicles and attempt to retrieve their casualties, fleeing on foot towards the al-Muhaysibat area.
The Mujahideen successfully thwarted the enemy’s maneuver, inflicting losses of 10 tanks and two D9 bulldozers. They had thwarted a similar attempt two days earlier from the town of Taybeh towards the town of Deir Siryan, destroying 8 Merkava tanks”.
Meanwhile, the party’s Secretary-General, Naim Qassem, issued a statement clarifying the important points related to the developments in the situation. The following are the most important points:
“It is no longer a secret that there is a dangerous American-Israeli project, Greater Israel, based on occupation and expansion from the Euphrates to the Nile, including Lebanon. The Israeli-American aggression against Lebanon did not stop on November 27, 2014, and the Israeli enemy did not abide by the agreement, but rather continued its aggression uninterrupted for fifteen months. It became clear that we are faced with two choices: either surrender and relinquish our land, dignity, sovereignty, and the future of our generations, or the inevitable confrontation and resistance against the occupation to prevent it from achieving its goals. The timing chosen by the resistance to respond to the aggression and defend Lebanon thwarted the Israeli enemy’s opportunity to surprise us, prevented it from isolating Lebanon, and refuted all pretexts, because a single missile salvo does not warrant a war, and pretexts are meaningless when the aggression continues for fifteen months. The resistance made the appropriate preparations, proved its effectiveness and worthiness, and the young, sacrificing fighters presented the most magnificent epics of heroism, honor, patriotism, and dignity. They are determined to continue without limits and are ready…” For boundless sacrifice, they are now the shining symbol of patriotism and the beacon of coming liberation.
The responsibility of confronting aggression is a national responsibility for everyone: government, people, army, forces, sects, parties, and every citizen. The Israeli-American aggression seeks to strip Lebanon of its strength, control its policies, and dictate the future of its children. It aims to rob Lebanon of its sovereignty and independence by instigating internal strife and conflict, legitimizing the Israeli occupation, and preventing the army from arming itself and defending the homeland. The response is a national responsibility.
When the monopoly on weapons is proposed to appease Israel while the occupation and aggression continue, it is a step towards the demise of Lebanon and the realization of the Greater Israel dream. When negotiations with the Israeli enemy are proposed under fire, it is an imposition of surrender and a stripping away of all of Lebanon’s capabilities. Moreover, negotiations are fundamentally unacceptable with an enemy that occupies the land and commits daily aggression.
There is no war being waged by others on Lebanese soil; rather, it is a war waged by Israel and America against Lebanon, countered by the resistance, the people, the army, the honorable, the patriotic, and the forces committed to Lebanon’s independence and liberation.
We are engaged in a defensive battle for Lebanon and its citizens. Those who are martyred are the finest men, women, youth, and children of our nation. We are liberating our homeland, Lebanon.
We call for national unity against the Israeli-American enemy, under one banner at this stage: stopping the aggression to liberate the land and its people. All other issues are open for discussion afterward.
As for what is happening in the Islamic Republic of Iran’s confrontation with the global American-Israeli aggression, it is a lesson to be learned. Iran has stood firm against the world’s most ruthless, criminal, and brutal forces, and, God willing, it will prevail. Know that every victory against America and Israel brings benefit to all”.
In contrast, the Israeli leadership has openly declared that its goal is to occupy Lebanese territory up to the Litani River to establish a buffer zone.
The Lebanese front is expected to witness further escalation given these factors, especially if the Gulf-Iranian front continues to escalate.
