Majority of Recent Hezbollah Rockets Launched From Civilian Areas

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Israel’s military said on August 26 that 90 percent of rockets and drones launched toward Israel by the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah during a massive barrage on August 25 were launched from near civilian areas. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) further reported that the Iran-backed group fired a total of 230 rockets and 20 suicide drones during the attack but was planning to launch hundreds more had Israel not preemptively eliminated hundreds of Hezbollah launchers. Infographics published by the IDF showed rockets “fired from civilian areas, nestled next to civilian sites like mosques, schools, gas stations, and UN compounds,” Israel’s Ynet media noted. In one case, Hezbollah placed dozens of rocket launchers within 500 feet of a United Nations compound in southern Lebanon.

Expert Analysis

“Hezbollah has replicated the Hamas tactic of basing its rockets and terror infrastructure next to civilian homes and UN sites. The Iranian-backed terrorist group hides its rocket launchers near civilian areas in order to shield them from retaliatory strikes and increase the chances that civilians and their homes will be harmed. Hezbollah must be condemned by the international community and cease using civilian areas in Lebanon for cover.” — Seth J. Frantzman, FDD Adjunct Fellow

“Like its allies in the Axis of Resistance, Hezbollah has co-opted the civilian population into its military infrastructure. The Lebanese organization is acutely aware that if the Jewish state targets these concealed military assets, it will face international backlash for the resulting civilian casualties. This strategy is not a coincidence. It’s deliberate and puts innocent lives at risk.” —Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst at FDD’s Long War Journal

Risk of War With Hezbollah May Have Been Reduced After Israeli Strikes on Hezbollah

After a three-day trip to the Middle East during which he visited Israel and met with Israeli military officials, Gen. CQ Brown, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that the risk of a larger war in the Middle East may have been “somewhat” reduced after Israel’s preemptive strike. “You had two things you knew were going to happen. One’s already happened. Now it depends on how the second is going to play out,” Brown said when asked by reporters while flying out of Israel, according to Reuters. Following Brown’s departure, Hezbollah continued its attacks on northern Israel. The IDF retaliated by striking several Hezbollah terror sites in southern Lebanon on August 26.

Related Analysis

“Israel Hits Strategic Hezbollah Launchers Preemptively,” FDD Flash Brief

“Hezbollah Launches Fifty Rockets at Israel, Striking Town in Golan,” FDD Flash Brief

“Hezbollah Unveils Vast Underground Missile Complex,” FDD Flash Brief