IDF reports massive casualties for Hezbollah in southern Lebanon
- The IDF reports substantial losses to Hezbollah, with thousands killed or injured during Operation Northern Arrows.
- Hezbollah's southern front has been effectively dismantled, and much of its infrastructure has been destroyed.
- The balance of control in southern Lebanon has shifted, with the Lebanese army regaining significant territory from Hezbollah.
In recent months, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have significantly impacted Hezbollah's military capabilities in southern Lebanon. Following a sustained military campaign dubbed Operation Northern Arrows, the IDF has reported that the operational capacity of Hezbollah's southern front has been effectively dismantled. According to reports from IDF officials, this campaign, carried out over nine months, has resulted in the deaths and injuries of approximately 12,000 Hezbollah terrorists, with an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 being killed outright. The operation not only included the destruction of Hezbollah fighters but also targeted their critical infrastructure, resulting in the demolition of their command and control centers, weapons warehouses, and training camps. It has been noted that over 70% of Hezbollah’s key divisions, including their firing array and Radwan Force, have been either destroyed or rendered ineffective. The Israeli air force has conducted around 500 airstrikes and multiple ground operations that have further incapacitated Hezbollah, drastically reducing the number of operational rocket launchers and missile caches that were previously aimed at Israel. As a consequence of these operations, it has been reported that Hezbollah currently possesses several thousand rockets, a significant reduction from earlier estimates suggesting they had up to 125,000. The operational environment has shifted, with IDF officials claiming they now have significant control over the area bordering Israel and are capable of destroying any approaching Hezbollah operatives. Furthermore, the changing dynamics have led to a report that the Lebanese army has regained control of approximately 80% of the territory south of the Litani River, an area that had been under Hezbollah's influence. This reallocation of control is seen as a pivotal move in the overall regional power dynamics and is indicative of the evolving military and political landscape in southern Lebanon.