An anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system over a photo of a Zionist convoy under fire. Photo: The Cradle.
Despite ‘Israeli’ claims of military advances in southern Lebanon, Hezbollah’s escalating operations and new weaponry reveal a fierce resistance, challenging the occupation’s narrative and signaling yet another u-turn in the war’s balance of power.
Last week, the ‘Israeli’ occupation army tried to project an image of victory – or at least military progress – on the southern Lebanon front. They published videos showing bombings of border villages and images of soldiers raising ‘Israeli’ flags, trying to convey a sense of power and control despite a history of military failures in the south.
But the reality on the ground tells a different story. This image is nothing but another media stunt aimed at demoralizing Hezbollah and reassuring ‘Israeli’ settlers that their army is making progress to encourage their return to northern settlements. Just days before his assassination, the late Hezbollah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah vowed to prevent their return as long as the occupation state continues its aggression against Gaza.
Hezbollah operations spike
On 22 October, Hezbollah carried out the highest number of operations against ‘Israel’ since 8 October 2023, when it launched cross-border military campaigns in support of Gaza and the Palestinian resistance.
Official statements from Hezbollah claimed responsibility for 39 attacks, including the destruction of six Merkava tanks near the border, numerous anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) and rocket strikes on occupation forces along the border, and some attacks reaching as far as 100 kilometers into ‘Israeli’ territory.
Three of the most significant attacks targeted Tel Aviv’s suburbs: a military-industrial complex, the Nirit settlement, and Unit 8200, the military’s intelligence corps for clandestine operations. Additionally, the Stella Maris Naval Base north of Haifa was targeted with Naser 2 missiles, while drones launched around 7 pm Beirut time targeted the Elyakim base south of Haifa, evading both the Iron Dome and ‘Israeli’ air force defenses.
Sirens wailed from the Lebanese border to 50 kilometers south of Haifa as these drones flew overhead, forcing nearly a million ‘Israelis’ into shelters, triggering panic, and further embarrassing the military after a Hezbollah drone struck Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s home. Social media is rife with videos showing drones flying for over 40 minutes before reaching their target.
Israeli’ attempts to enter Southern Lebanon
For over a year, the front lines in southern Lebanon have faced thousands of raids after Hezbollah opened a support front for the Palestinian resistance in Gaza. Despite this and the assassination of numerous top Hezbollah military officials, the Lebanese resistance’s anti-armor missiles continue to strike ‘Israeli’ vehicles and soldiers from the border region.
Following heavy bombardments by the ‘Israeli army,’ Hezbollah fighters retreated to defensive positions, from which they have been countering ‘Israeli’ attempts to invade southern Lebanon. The images and footage released by the ‘Israeli army,’ allegedly showing soldiers entering Hezbollah facilities near the border, are nothing more than wartime propaganda.
These positions – constructed under the watchful eye of Tel Aviv – hold no defensive value and have been bombed countless times without any real strategic impact on the war.
These border facilities were previously used by Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Forces to launch attacks against ‘Israeli’ positions. The area south of the Litani River hosts thousands of such installations, which are larger, deeper, and of far greater strategic importance. The question remains: can ‘Israeli army’ spokesperson Daniel Hagari visit them at will? No.
Despite continuous attempts, the ‘Israeli army’ has yet to secure a foothold in southern Lebanon. They advance deeper, only to face fierce resistance, forcing them to retreat under fire. The maximum depth reached by occupation forces has been about two kilometers in the Al-Qouzah area, but they were forced to retreat quickly, suffering heavy casualties and losing tanks and bulldozers in the process.
Hezbollah’s field advantages
The ‘Israeli’ military generally avoids venturing into villages and urban areas, even after systematic destruction, to minimize direct clashes or the risk of falling into Hezbollah’s ambushes. Instead, it prefers to advance along the outskirts of villages, staying away from resistance fighters’ watchful eyes – except in regions where villages merge, such as Maroun al-Ras, Al-Adaysa, and Yaroun.
The border villages of Kfar Kila, Aita al-Shaab, Khiam, Maroun Al-Ras, Yaroun, and others have all faced violent airstrikes by the occupation air force over the past year.
Although the US-backed ‘Israeli’ forces are well-trained and equipped with some of the world’s best military hardware, they are no match for the terrain of southern Lebanon, which favors the guerrilla tactics adopted by Hezbollah fighters.
Unlike the invaders, these fighters are natives of the villages where the battles play out. They know the land intimately and use every tree, valley, mountain, and rock to their advantage, defending their home with a resilience that no technology can easily overcome.
High terrain provides them with visual and fire control, making it difficult for enemy forces to advance. It’s also important to note that there is no single “strategic village”; rather, control over different areas provides varied tactical advantages.
For instance, Maroun al-Ras offers control over Bint Jbeil, a town symbolically important to ‘Israel’ for being the site of the legendary battle bearing its name, and Nasrallah’s famous “spider web” speech following ‘Israel’s’ withdrawal from Lebanon six years earlier in 2000.
At that time, Lebanese resistance forces, led by the late Khaled Bazzi, successfully confronted the ‘Israeli army’ and prevented it from reaching the site where Nasrallah gave his speech.
Enhanced arsenal: Hezbollah’s new capabilities
After weeks of silence, Hezbollah recently released footage showing an attack on an ‘Israeli’ unit of seven soldiers with two Almas guided missiles in the village of Ramyeh. The aftermath suggests at least two soldiers were killed and several injured, although ‘Israel’ has not reported any casualties—confirming suspicions that Tel Aviv has been downplaying its losses in southern Lebanon and elsewhere throughout the war.
Moreover, Hezbollah introduced four new weapons into service this month: the Qader 2 ballistic missile, the Naser 1 and Naser 2 missiles, and the M80 anti-personnel rocket launcher. The Qader 2 has a range of 250 kilometers with a 405-kilogram warhead, while the Naser 1 and 2 have ranges of 100 kilometers and 150 kilometers, respectively, each with pinpoint accuracy. These additions signal Hezbollah’s advanced capabilities in both targeting and firepower.
After preventing the ‘Israeli army’ from controlling or securing southern villages, increasing the volume and quality of the daily attacks, and deploying new strategic weapons, it seems clear that the Lebanese resistance is gradually recovering after taking harsh blows with the assassinations of its leaders and ‘Israel’s’ pager terror attacks last month.
