Military analyst Amir Bukhbut published yesterday IDF data on the situation of Hizbullah and the losses suffered by the terrorist organization since the beginning of hostilities.
According to the data, Hizbullah has lost 2,550 fighters killed in action and more than 5,000 wounded since the beginning of the war. Several hundred fighters are also believed to have deserted. Thus, the total number of terrorists who dropped out of the fighting is about 8 thousand people, that is, about 15-20% of the total number of forces of the organization.
Bukhbut also cites additional data from the defense ministry on Hizbullah's armament. Before the outbreak of hostilities, the group had about 44,000 short-range missiles (up to 40 kilometers), of which only about 10,000 remain. Hizbullah also had about 5,000 medium-range missiles, of which only about 1,000 remain.
As for “precision missiles” capable of threatening Israeli infrastructure, such as power plants and air force bases, according to the defense establishment, Hizbullah possessed several hundred such missiles before the war began, but today only about 100 such missiles remain in the organization's arsenal, including several coastal missiles.
The defense ministry notes that despite Hizbullah's possession of several thousand missiles, the organization does not launch them in massive salvos, as it originally planned and as many experts assumed. Even after the Israeli attack on Iran, Hizbullah's response was minimal.
According to Army analysts, there are several reasons for this:
1. Destruction of missile and weapons depots.
2. Mass destruction of missile installations.
3. Elimination of the command chain.
4. Elimination of active fighters involved in missile launches.
5. Significant difficulties in the use of communications and command systems due to Israeli electronic attacks, making it difficult to organize and conduct large-scale and coordinated missile salvos.
From our point of view, all these remarkable achievements show the great mercy and help of the Almighty, manifested through miracles “clothed in the garments of nature”.
Not so long ago, we were intimidated by statements about Hizbullah's colossal stockpile of weapons. They have “150,000 missiles” and are capable of launching “a thousand missiles a day,” which in turn will inevitably lead to “thousands of destroyed buildings” and “many casualties.
However, all these frightening predictions have not materialized. “Hizbullah has suffered the heaviest losses: the organization has lost its entire top command staff, the entire top of the Radwan unit, virtually the entire coastal missile system, and about 80% of its missile stockpile. In other words, the organization is now in a very dire, broken state.
However, there are those who are using all this encouraging data for negative purposes, promoting the idea of an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon.
Should Israel end the operation or, on the contrary, continue the war with Hizbullah?
The military situation in northern Israel is such that so far only the border villages known as the “first belt” have been cleared. However, a vast area up to the Litani River remains under the control of Hizbullah. It should be understood that the “second belt of villages” and the numerous towns and villages up to the Litani River are also Hizbullah military bases, similar to those we discovered and destroyed along the border line from which the organization planned to attack northern Israeli settlements.
Moreover, in addition to liberating territories, it is vital to inflict a final defeat on Hizbullah. Defeating the enemy is a key element in any war. Although Hizbullah has suffered serious losses, it has not yet been completely defeated and remains capable of fighting. In order to achieve a sustained credible result against this terrorist organization, it is necessary to finish the job with a decisive blow.
There are also strategic arguments in favor of continuing the operation. One of the most important principles of warfare is to “capitalize on success.” Israel has repeatedly achieved tactical victories, but time after time it has missed the opportunity for complete success in battle, resulting in an incomplete victory and maintaining the threat for the future. Today's impressive results, the losses inflicted, and the weakening of Hizbullah offer Israel the chance to bring the operation to a final victory and consolidate its strategic advantage for years to come.
The data showing Hizbullah's heavy losses provide Israel with an opportunity to seize the moment of good fortune and completely deprive the Iranian proxy organization of influence in Lebanon. Against the backdrop of impressive Israeli victories, there is now growing discontent with Hizbullah in that country — from both political circles and ordinary citizens. If Israel now agrees to a ceasefire, this wave of resistance inside Lebanon will subside and the opportunity to change the political situation there will be lost.
Thus, given the current circumstances and the weakening of Hizbullah, we are convinced that the Israeli army must continue the operation in Lebanon in order to finally defeat this Iranian terrorist organization.