by Amir Bohbot
“The Lebanese army lied to the IDF. They deceived Israel. They claimed they had enforced the decision to demilitarize southern Lebanon," one Israeli officer said.
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The Lebanese army lied to the IDF about its operations to disarm and dismantle Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, Israeli officers say, adding that, now that the military is again operating in the area, it is discovering Hezbollah has reestablished itself and its infrastructure there.
Over the past week, IDF troops in southern Lebanon have intensified operations in the town of El-Khiam, aiming to locate terrorist infrastructure and operatives. The town has, for more than two decades, been developed as a strategic Hezbollah stronghold due to its topographical position, the presence of operatives and field commanders living in the area, and its direct threat to Israel’s home front.
Officers who recently operated in the El-Khiam area said that the IDF is carrying out systematic work in the town to locate terrorists, weapons, and terrorist infrastructure. Contrary to prior claims that the village had already been cleared, due to recent meticulous ground searches, lots of Hezbollah infrastructure have been discovered.
IDF officer: 'The Lebanese army lied to the IDF'
One officer remarked, “The Lebanese army lied to the IDF. They deceived Israel. They claimed they had enforced the decision to demilitarize southern Lebanon. They shared intelligence and reports on entire regions, but based on what we found, it's clear that nothing was done. More than that, Hezbollah has reestablished itself at a strategic point that is advantageous for them and threatening for Israel.”
According to officers in Northern Command, a significant percentage of Shiites serving in the Lebanese army are affiliated with Hezbollah.
Following a directive from Defense Minister Israel Katz, officers from the Northern Command indicated that plans are underway for ‘root treatment’ in the town, a systematic effort to dismantle all terrorist infrastructure through extensive engineering operations.
This approach is similar to the operations carried out by the Southern Command in the IDF-controlled areas of Gaza east of the Yellow Line.
In recent days, bulldozers have entered the Lebanese town to demolish structures. A security source familiar with the plan said El-Khiam is currently a focal point and may serve as a model for future operations, pending approval from the political echelon.
The town of El-Khiam is located on elevated terrain, allowing direct observation and line-of-sight fire toward Kiryat Shmona, Metula, and communities along the Ramim Ridge.
Its elevation enables Hezbollah anti-tank squads and snipers to operate with maximum effectiveness against IDF troops and Israeli civilians inside Israeli territory. This is precisely the type of threat the IDF seeks to prevent by creating a defensive buffer against Hezbollah attacks.
In addition, El-Khiam is a strategic point that controls the main traffic routes in southern Lebanon. Due to the town’s location and terrain, Hezbollah commanders in Lebanon chose to build underground infrastructure, bunkers that would be able to deal with air attacks, weapons depots, and headquarters next to the homes of civilians who are supposed to serve as human shields, some of whom are paid.
It is important to note that, due to its size, the town has functioned as a “launch hub,” where operatives arrive, equip themselves with weapons and military gear, and depart on missions against IDF soldiers and Israeli civilians.
These, in particular, include anti-tank missile attacks, given Hezbollah’s ability to launch precision missiles with an effective range of up to 10 km.
The group also launches short-range rockets and mortar attacks, guided by observation posts.
Despite claims by senior Northern Command officers, IDF commanders warn that the threat of cross-border raids on Israel’s home front persists, with El-Khiam serving as a staging ground for Hezbollah’s Radwan force.
Amir Bohbot
Source: https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-891126
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