In late September, as the anniversary of Hamasās October 7 attacks approached and Gaza lay in ruins, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a new strategic priority: targetingĀ Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Despite a brutal campaign that decimated the groupās leadership and displaced overĀ 1.2 million civilians, Hezbollah remains a formidable opponent ā recently even launching a drone strike that hit Netanyahuās own home.
This article exploresĀ how Hezbollah has survived, adapted, and continues to retaliate despite overwhelming Israeli firepower.
1. Israelās Multi-Front Offensive Against Hezbollah
Killing Top Commanders
In late September, Israeli forces began a sustained bombing campaign. Among the high-profile Hezbollah figures killed were:
Hassan Nasrallah (Secretary-General)Hashem Safieddine (Deputy Leader)Nabil Qaouk, Ibrahim Aqil, and Ali Karaki (Senior Military Commanders)
These strikes targeted Hezbollah facilities inĀ Dahiyeh,Ā Beqaa Valley, and even centralĀ Beirut, including drone workshops and financial hubs.
The Psychological Blitz
Israel also reportedly triggered thousands of booby-trapped communications devices (pagers, walkie-talkies), killing militants and civilians alike. The intent: decapitate Hezbollahās centralized command.
2. Hezbollahās Resilient Structure and Strategy
Despite these catastrophic hits, Hezbollah remains operational. Why?
Autonomous Units
Hezbollahās military strategy is rooted in decentralization. Small, highly trained units operateĀ independently, empowered to make tactical decisions on their own. This mission-command style approach has allowed the group to maintain functionality even after its leadership was destroyed.
High Mobility and Dispersal
Hezbollah relies on tactics developed in previous conflicts, such as:
Underground tunnels and sheltersMobile rocket platformsMountain bikes for low-profile transportFast setup/disperse times (under 30 seconds for a rocket launch)3. Continued Retaliation Against Israel
