Lebanon’s ceasefire shows need for IDF rethink on slow war doctrine - analysis

A recent ceasefire in Lebanon, coupled with discussions of Israeli withdrawals from certain areas, is prompting a critical re-evaluation of the Israeli military's warfighting doctrine. Israel has been engaged in conflict for 989 days since the October 7, 2023, attacks. While the war was initiated by Hamas and Hezbollah, Israel has maintained the responsibility to alter the situation and prosecute the war on its own terms.

In the initial months following October 7, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) focused on regrouping and responding to unprecedented strains, including the deaths of 1,000 Israelis and the taking of 250 hostages, alongside the mobilization of 500,000 reservists. However, by September 2024, when the IDF shifted to an offensive against Hezbollah, Israel had begun dictating the tempo across various fronts. Despite this, the recent ceasefire and international pressure to halt offensive operations have created uncertainty about future strategies.

Concerns are mounting as Hezbollah maintains its presence not only in the Bekaa Valley and Dahiyeh but also near Israel's border. Reports from the Alma Research and Education Center highlight the IDF's ground operations against Hezbollah's primary underground infrastructure on the Ali al-Taher ridge, located approximately 10 kilometers from the Israeli border. This facility is believed to be a key headquarters for launching weapons and conducting attacks into Israeli territory.

The article questions why it took the IDF approximately 900 days to engage this area, contrasting it with the two-day capture of the Beaufort in 1982. The reason appears to be a shift in IDF doctrine, particularly evident in Gaza, moving away from the "Momentum plan's" emphasis on maneuver warfare and combined firepower. Instead, the IDF has adopted very slow, incremental advances, likened to World War I battlefield tactics but without the high casualties. However, the analysis suggests that even this cautious approach carries risks, as Hezbollah continues to innovate and the IDF still suffers casualties, indicating that a war without losses is unattainable.