Cracks in Hezbollah’s Leadership: Security Officials Urge to Use Escalation to Expand Strikes in Lebanon
The terrorist organization continues to launch heavy barrages towards Israeli communities rather than IDF bases. However, the group insists that the rockets were aimed at a military base, highlighting the low professional level of its operatives. Security sources claim that the assassination of the organization’s chief of staff has disrupted its command-and-control structure.
The Hezbollah terrorist organization fired a barrage of dozens of rockets towards Israeli communities today (Wednesday), rather than at IDF posts or bases, for the second consecutive day. The Shiite organization took responsibility for the rocket attacks, and its spokespeople claimed that the intention was to target the IDF’s Tsanuber base, not the civilian communities. This indicates the low professional level of the operatives on the ground.
Security officials estimate that Hezbollah’s actions over the past two days against Israeli civilians require a harsh response, and the political echelon should seize the opportunity to strike Hezbollah targets.
Moreover, security sources note that the assassination of Hezbollah’s Chief of Staff, Fuad Shukr, also known as ‘Sid Mohsein,’ has created difficulties for Hezbollah in executing attacks against Israel. “There is no longer a senior advisor to organize the military reality, recommend actions against Israel, and carry them out professionally,” said a security official, adding that Shukr’s assassination follows the killing of two senior commanders in southern Lebanon, who served as division and brigade commanders.
The resulting effect has been the disruption of Hezbollah’s command and control system and its ability to execute attacks against Israel, especially as many of the organization’s fire operatives have been killed one after the other by IDF fire. Security officials claim that the extent of the assassinations has created a new reality at the top of Hezbollah’s military wing, where the individual currently managing the fight against Israel is Ali Karaki, defined as Hezbollah’s commander of southern Lebanon.
Even under Karaki’s command, forces on the ground continue to suffer daily painful blows, manifested in the killing of operatives and the destruction of infrastructure such as weapons depots over the past two days. At the beginning of 2000, Karaki was dismissed from his position following a series of professional failures but was reinstated to senior roles due to his connections with the leadership.
