Senior IDF Officer: Israel Is Preparing For The Next Lebanon War

Haaretz ^ | 5 July 2012 | Gili Cohen

[edpc]

Six years after the outbreak of the Second Lebanon War, the IDF is saying openly that Israel is preparing for another Lebanon war.

The commander of the IDF's 91st Division, Brigardier-General Hertzi Halevy told journalists on Thursday, "We understand that there is more than one factor, whether this is Lebanese, or whether it will come from somewhere else, that can ignite the border here."

The 91st Division, part of the Northern Command, and responsible for the front with Lebanon, sees developments in Syria as one of the factors that could upset the calm that has prevailed in the region since the war. The collapse of the Syrian regime may also bring with it an increase in Jihadi or Hezbollah operatives, who may try to carry out targeted attacks in the area.

[edpc]

In IDF simulations of what a third Lebanon war would look like, ground maneuvers in villages that are considered bastions of Shiite Hezbollah become particularly important. "The next war will be different, and therefore we should stop it as quickly as possible, in order to make things easier for the home front. This means carrying out a very strong attack against Lebanon, and the damage will be enormous," says a senior officer in the Northern Command.

"The Goldstone report will pale in comparison to what will be here next time. There is no choice but to fight against the enemy where he is, and that is in the heart of a populated area. "

At the dawn of the 21st Century, the people of Lebanon had taken steps to rid themselves of the Iranian/Syrian/Hezbollah stranglehold gripping their nation. Hariri's assassination in 2005 began a descent back into darkness. Sitting on their hands during the 2006 Israeli conflict was a poor choice and only provided further velocity to the fall. Allowing Hezbollah political access into their government proved fatal to the Cedar Revolution.

Their bill for dealing with the devil will soon come due.....in full.

[frankenMonkey]

I really don’t have any indepth knowledge about Lebanon, but isn’t the country under the complete dominance of Syria?

[robowombat]

The turmoil in Syria should give Israel a window of opportunity to strike Hezbollah. Interestingly the heavily Saudi funded Syrian insurgency find this a convergence of interests. The insurgency is Islamist but Sunni. Israel taking down the Shia Hezbollah will facilitate the efforts of the Sunni Islamacists to spread into Lebanon. They will be Israel's next enemies in Lebanon but not as competent ones as Hezbollah. The one big problem is if the Syrian regime is over turned or a real civil war occurs the Jewish and Christian populations of Syria are going to be targets for massacre. The IDF positioned in Lebanon could assist in at least a partial rescue mission in alliance with what is left of the Lebanese Christians. Things are going to be interesting on the northern frontiers of Israel that is for certain.

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

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[SunkenCiv]

G’night all. Thanks edpc; from the FRchives:

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