Hezbollah’s commander has expressed readiness to utilize “significant numbers of suicide bombers” in the face of Israel, as revealed in an interview with Al Jazeera by an unidentified leader of the group. The commander stated that tactics from the 1980s, including deploying suicide bombers, would be employed to hinder Israel’s presence.
The senior military official disclosed that “substantial contingents of suicide bombers have been positioned in the occupied territory with predetermined strategies,” specifically referring to the region held by Israel in southern Lebanon. Their primary objective is to engage with Israeli officers and soldiers in the occupied Lebanese villages.
Simultaneously, the Israeli army has initiated strikes on alleged Hezbollah infrastructure in the Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon. Recent attacks targeting Tibnin and Yater in southern Lebanon were also reported.
Notably, Hezbollah has a history of employing suicide attacks, notably illustrated by past operations like the Tyre truck bombings against the IDF and the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing against American and French peacekeepers, which influenced other extremist groups.
Following the recent hostilities, Lebanon’s Ministry of Health reported casualties from strikes, with 14 individuals killed, including two children and two women, along with 37 wounded. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed launching “artillery and aerial strikes” on southern Lebanon targeting alleged Hezbollah operatives.
Despite a ceasefire agreement, tensions persist as Hezbollah allegedly launched three drones towards Israel, intercepted by the Israeli air force before breaching the border. The peace deal grants Israel the right to take necessary defensive actions against anticipated or ongoing attacks.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which erupted on March 2, has resulted in over 2,300 fatalities from Israeli strikes, with more than 1 million people displaced. Meanwhile, President Trump decided to cancel a planned delegation trip to Pakistan led by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for discussions with Iran, stating that extensive flights for inconclusive talks were unnecessary.
