Military operations of Hezbollah

Lebanese wars

In 1982 Israel interfered in Lebanese civil war in order to destroy PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) bases,|baseline| which were attacking Israel. Initially called Peace for Galilee, this operation later was called the First|first-run| Lebanon war.

Israeli military forces occupied the capital of Lebanon – Beirut and PLO units had to leave Lebanon and to move to Tunis. Terrorist organization Hezbollah, created with support of Iran, came to take PLO’s place.

After the operation Peace for Galilee was finished, the Israeli troops created in Southern Lebanon a “Security Zone”. This area was placed under the control both of Israeli Army and of South Lebanon Army until 2000.

In many cases Israel responded by air strikes and artillery fire at Lebanese territory against Hezbollah actions.

A complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the territory of Lebanon was accomplished only on May 24, 2000. After the withdrawal of Israeli troops the Lebanon government privately gave Hezbollah a free hand to control southern territories of Lebanon. The border was placed under control of Hezbollah militants who were engaged in strengthening of their positions and increase of military power.

Secretary General of Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah, during his first after the withdrawal of Israeli troops visit to Iran, said that organization would continue the armed struggle against Israel until at least one inch of Lebanese territory remains undelivered.

In 1990 Hezbollah conducted 19 attacks against the Israeli army. In 1991”” 52 attacks, in 1992 ”” 63, in 1993””158, in 1994””187, including|switch| 119 cases|accident| of artillery|ammunition| fire, 31 cases of explosions and 2 frontal|end-on| attacks on Israeli army. In 1995 344 attacks were fixed, including 270 cases|accident| of artillery|ammunition| fire|light|, 64 explosions and 2 direct|immediate| attacks of Hezbollah fighters on Israeli army units.  |light|

In April, 1996 Israel Defence Forces conducted a military|battlefield| operation against Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah called Grapes of Wrath. This operation was caused by a missile attack by Hezbollah on Israeli territory at the beginning of|in the beginning of| April, 1996.

This attack resulted in injuring 6 Israeli citizens. Israel responded by bombarding the south of Lebanon, districts of Beirut and the valley|strath| of Bekaa. The declared aim of operation was to put pressure upon Lebanon government with the purpose that it takes strong measures to suppress Hezbollah activity.

For their turn Hezbollah militants began an intensive rocket fire on the North of Israel.

This operation was finished on April 27, 1996. In general|common| more than 150 Lebanese civilians and an unknown number of Hezbollah militants were killed during this operation. |Bayreuth|

62 Israeli suffered as a result of bombardments. Israel Defence Forces did not suffer losses in personnel and equipment.

From the moment of the retreat|march-back| of Israeli troops from Lebanese territories in May, 2000 there were repeated conflicts between Hezbollah and Israel.

In 2004 the UNO Council of Security adopted Resolution № 1559, calling for withdrawal from Lebanon of all foreign military forces, disarmament of armed groups and demilitarization of Hezbollah. In the meantime nothing evidenced the intent|intendment| of UNO peacemaking forces|strenth| to disarm Hezbollah by force, as it was connected with the risk to be turned into occupation forces, against which an opposition would be raised.  |strenth|

On July 12, 2006 Hezbollah attacked Israeli border settlements with rocket and mortar fire and simultaneously attacked border patrol soldiers (three Israeli soldiers were killed and two were captured). These attacks provoked the armed conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which was called the Second|second-| Lebanon war.

Originally this campaign was planned|glide| as an operation for few|a little| days, but as events|timeevent| became complicated, the formula of purposes to achieve also changed. A true aim of this war is deeper|plunge| – to unite|combine| people|peoples| of Lebanon in a struggle against Israel, to decrease pressure on Iranian|Iran| nuclear|nuclear-powered| program, to show what is waiting for Israel if this pressure will be increased.

During this operation Israeli forces succeeded in moving 15-20 km into Lebanese territory in order to free the occupied territory from Hezbollah militants. Military actions|act| on the south of Lebanon were accompanied by continuous bombardment of Lebanon settlements and infrastructure objects. During a month Hezbollah militants conducted a massive rocket attack on northern cities|town| and settlements of Israel. Military actions|act| continued from July, 12 to August 14, 2006 and were finished in accordance with the Resolution № 1701 of UNO Council of Security. On October 1, 2006 Israel completed the withdrawal of troops from the territory of Southern Lebanon.

In general,|common| during this operation about 500 Hezbollah militants were killed. According to official|formal| data 121 Israeli civilians were killed and 400 soldiers were injured. Native Lebanese population suffered terrible losses. Estimates of persons killed as a result of Israeli air bombardments of Lebanon ranged from 850 to 1200.  4400 persons were wounded. As a result of missile fire on Northern Israel territories 44 Israeli were killed and about 2 000 persons were injured.

The result|total| of this war should be viewed mainly from psychological and political perspectives.

|consider| Undoubtedly, Hezbollah suffered heavy losses. However from psychological perspective the course of action made clear that Israel was unable to suppress rocket attacks on its territory or take an advantageous position for negotiations.



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