On the first day of its official deployment on Lebanese soil, Israeli intentions seem to contradict the initial promises of a “limited and precise” operation. Israeli troops, who have extended their range beyond southern Lebanon and to the east, are already approaching the strategic Litani River, amid intense clashes with Lebanese forces and Hezbollah. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged at least eight casualties in ambushes and hand-to-hand combat.
“The Lebanese army assures that the Israeli advance does not exceed 400 meters,” explained Guillermo Pulido, security and defense analyst, “and the Institute for War Studies confirms, through satellite images, that progress is limited“However, massive bombing of military and civilian targets in Beirut and other regions has not stopped, prompting the evacuation of a quarter of Lebanese territory. According to local sources, more than 2,000 people have died in the during these first days of the offensive.
Even if the fighting on the ground has not reached the ferocity hoped for, the country’s hospitals are preparing for a massive influx of wounded. “The clashes are not as intense as expected“, which suggests the existence of political pressure that slows down the military operation,” Pulido added.
Meanwhile, the Israeli government celebrated the destruction of what it considers half of Hezbollah’s arsenals. In Israel, public opinion appears to support the offensive, relegating the hostage crisis in the region to the background. “The World Order” analyst Blas Moreno noted that “In Israel, the war against Hezbollah and Iran enjoys broad supportand concerns about the hostages have lost their relevance.”
As the operation intensifies, 10,000 new Israeli soldiers are in preparationn to strengthen the offensive in the coming days.
