Massive Airstrike Campaign Hits Hezbollah’s Key Assets in Lebanon

Israeli flag with three fighter jets in flight.

Israel has launched its most extensive airstrike campaign ever against Hezbollah, targeting a vast array of military infrastructure across Lebanon.

At a Glance

Israel has conducted extensive airstrikes and intelligence-driven operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The operations have significantly degraded Hezbollah’s arsenal, including missiles, drones, and rocket launchers.
At least three senior Hezbollah commanders have been killed.
Israel has targeted Hezbollah’s surveillance equipment, command rooms, and other infrastructure.
Over 600 individuals have been killed, including many Hezbollah operatives.

Unprecedented Airstrike Campaign

Israel has undertaken a large-scale airstrike campaign against Hezbollah, targeting missile storage facilities, drones, and rocket launchers across Lebanon. Over several days, this operation, described as the most extensive in Israel’s military history, has significantly crippled Hezbollah’s arsenal. The airstrikes have resulted in the death of three senior commanders and the neutralization of nearly 400 rocket launchers, as well as 70 weapons storage sites and 80 drones.

Israel’s strategic initiative aims to weaken Hezbollah’s military might and protect its borders. Israeli military leadership is keen on ensuring the safety and security of its citizens, which has prompted these significant and decisive actions. The country’s defense analysts, however, caution that despite these efforts, Hezbollah continues to pose a significant threat due to its widespread and concealed armaments.

Execution and Impact

Israel has logged close to 3,000 flight hours, using over 250 warplanes to drop around 2,000 munitions across 200 locations. These strikes have demolished approximately 400 medium-range rocket launchers, 70 weapons storage depots, and around 80 drones and cruise missiles. The ongoing assault is seen as a regional game changer, putting Hezbollah on the defensive.

“You hear the jets overhead—we have been striking all day,” General Halevi told soldiers conducting military exercises along the Israeli-Lebanese border. “This is both to prepare the ground for your possible entry and to continue degrading Hezbollah.”

Despite these tremendous losses, experts caution that Hezbollah still retains significant capabilities and that Israel has a long way to go to fully neutralize the threat. Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, has opted for incremental escalation, showing solidarity with Hamas without risking Hezbollah’s survival.

Death Toll and Strategic Outcomes

The conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with over 600 killed, including many Hezbollah operatives. Israel has assassinated 16 of Hezbollah’s top leaders in recent months, a strategic move aimed at disrupting their command and control capabilities.

“When you see the air strikes in Lebanon, what you’re seeing is the fruits of hard labor, elite intelligence, and a supreme airpower machine,” Eran Ortal, a retired brigadier general in the Israeli army and former commander of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Dado Center for Multidisciplinary Military Thinking. “The thought was that this airpower [strategy] is a deterrent enough, so we don’t have to fulfill what we once called battlespace decisive victory.”

With these continuous airstrikes, Israel aims to achieve the return of 60,000 civilians to their homes. Furthermore, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, Israel’s military chief of staff, has suggested a possible ground invasion in Lebanon, indicating the seriousness with which Israel views the ongoing threats from Hezbollah.