IDF General: Next War Will Be Devastating for Lebanon

Jerusalem, 19 February, 2018 (TPS) -- “The next war will be difficult (for Israel), but it will be much more difficult for the other side,” Maj. Gen. Nitzan Alon, head of the IDF Operations Directorate told Army Radio Monday. Alon said that since the beginning of 2018 there has been a noted increase in the probability of an escalation on Israel’s northern front, as “Hezbollah, with the Iranians backing them, are accelerating their military build-up.”

Alon warned that the people of Lebanon would suffer extensive damage in the event of an all-out war with Israel, saying that ‘the IDF’s firepower, along with its maneuverability are such that those who will be severely hurt will be the other side.

“I don’t think any Israeli civilian would want to switch places with any Lebanese civilian in the next war,” he added.

The general also said the next war may not be contained only to fighting Hezbollah, but could drag other players into the arena. “Iran’s interest may be to pay with Palestinian blood in order to achieve their interests up north,” he said, suggesting that in the event of a war up north, the Iranians could encourage and fund Palestinian factions to challenge Israel from within.

Also Monday, the Syrian opposition reported significant Syrian military activity on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights, roughly 20 kilometers from Israel’s border. According to reports from multiple sources, Assad’s regime and Hezbollah have been on heightened alert and have bolstered their ranks in the towns of Quneitra and Daraa on the assumption that the two towns would become battlegrounds in the event of a clash between Israel and Iranian forces.

Furthermore, the Saudi owned Al-Arabia news website reported that military vehicles belonging to Assad’s regime were scene making their way towards Quneitra.

According to foreign reports, Israel has routinely attacked targets in Syria in recent months, including Iranian strongholds, weapons convoys en-route to Hezbollah, and other targets that threaten Israel. Furthermore, there have also been reports that Israel has become involved with some Sunni rebel factions in southern Syria, with some factions claiming that Israel has been arming them and has recently significantly amped up their military aid to them.