Amid preparations for Iran and Hezbollah’s response to the assassination of Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah leader Fouad Shukr, new Israeli concerns have emerged regarding the scenario of an attack on the northern front, beyond just rockets and drones.
While the Israeli home front anticipates a response from Iran and Hezbollah involving extensive rocket and drone attacks, officers in the Israel Defense Forces’ Northern Command are warning of another threat: a potential ground attack on settlements located on the northern border, according to the Hebrew website “Walla.”
According to the officers, contrary to popular belief, Hezbollah’s Radwan Unit is still capable of launching a coordinated attack on the border, which could include an attempt to infiltrate a settlement or an outpost.
Walla quoted the officers: “Why hasn’t Hezbollah done this yet? Because it chose not to do so previously.”
The officers added, “But those who believe Hezbollah is not training to insert a group of fighters into Israeli territory are mistaken and misled.”
The assumption is that Hezbollah could infiltrate, raise its flag in a settlement or an Israeli military site on the border, and set fire to several buildings. For Hezbollah, this could represent a victory image, according to the officers.
The officers also emphasized that such an action by Hezbollah could affect the entire northern region and “terrorize the Israelis there,” as they put it.
Hezbollah Deploys More Radwan Forces on the Border
According to the officers, Hezbollah increased its deployment of Radwan forces in advanced positions along the border last month.
However, security officials believe that the Israeli army has inflicted significant damage on the Radwan unit’s infrastructure near the border, undermining its ability to conduct a large-scale incursion into Israeli territory. Nevertheless, this does not rule out a potential response to the assassination of Fouad Shukr.
It is noted that Tel Aviv anticipates Hezbollah might act before Iran, and that a “coordinated attack” scenario is considered “the worst case,” though the likelihood of its occurrence is low.
Last Tuesday, Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah stated that the party’s response to Shukr’s assassination is “inevitable,” whether individually or collectively, and that Israel’s anticipation of this response is “part of the punishment.”
