Cold military logic takes over in Israel-Hezbollah conflict 


BBC
A rocket-damaged house in Givat Avni, northern Israel

It seems hard to believe that it’s less than a week since Hezbollah’s communication devices started exploding all across Lebanon.

The days since have represented a series of catastrophic setbacks for the formidable, Iranian-backed Shia militia.

With its networks disrupted, its fighting men mutilated, its leadership assassinated and its military infrastructure under constant bombardment, Hezbollah is facing its worst crisis in four decades.

Now Israel’s defence minister says the campaign is “deepening”.

But it’s a high-risk strategy, in which Hezbollah’s ability to respond cannot be ignored.


With alerts constantly sounding across northern Israel, Yoav Gallant has told Israelis to “show composure, discipline and full obedience to the directives of Home Front Command”.

We found all on display in equal measure when we visited the small community of Givat Avni, a short distance west of Tiberias.

David Yitzhak showed us where a 120mm rocket tore through the roof of his family home at lunchtime on Monday.


With sirens blaring, David bundled his wife and six-year-old daughter into the house’s safe room, seconds before the explosion.

“It’s a metre from life to death,” David said, indicating the short distance between the safe room and the hole in his daughter’s bedroom.

He said he feels no animosity towards the people of Lebanon, but says Hezbollah started the war for no reason.