As tension continues on the southern front, the latest developments show that the ceasefire has not ended the dangers, but has once again highlighted a dangerous weapon in the confrontation: improvised explosive devices that Hezbollah regularly uses against Israeli forces.
According to a report published by Israeli Channel 12, the “sequence of incidents” in southern Lebanon brings to mind an “old-new threat,” namely planted devices targeting forces in the field, despite the ceasefire taking effect last week.
The report explains that two fatal incidents occurred in less than 24 hours, leading to the death of two Israeli soldiers, which indicates the scale of the challenge facing the forces deployed in the south.
He stresses that these incidents highlight “one of the most complex threats” in the field, as these devices are used as an essential part of Hezbollah’s strategy, in addition to anti-armor missiles and drones.
In the details of the two incidents, Reserve Sergeant Barack Calvon was killed during a search operation inside a building, after detonating a powerful device, while Sergeant Ledor Port was later killed when a device exploded under an engineering vehicle he was riding, and a nearby protection force was injured as a result of another explosion.
Estimates in the Israeli security establishment indicate that these operations are not random, but rather part of “prior and systematic preparation,” whereby explosive devices are planted deep in the roads, inside the walls of civilian buildings, and sometimes under the floors, and are detonated by multiple means, including pressure or remote control.
The report adds that this fighting method is very similar to the fighting methods faced by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip, where the urban environment turns into an area full of mines, making detection and dismantling operations very difficult.
According to the report, the Israeli army admits that dealing with this threat represents a “continuous technological race,” due to the difficulty of completely removing the devices, especially in areas with complex terrain and high population density.
In this context, the forces are working to increase engineering efforts and reduce direct contact with suspicious areas, especially during inspections, which are considered the most dangerous and sensitive.
The Israeli military establishment is also preparing for the possibility of this type of attack continuing, with estimates that Hezbollah will continue to attempt to lure forces into “field traps” via pre-planted devices.
In parallel, what is known as the “yellow line” emerges, which is a security zone up to 10 kilometers deep inside Lebanese territory, where Israeli forces continue to be stationed and work to “cleanse” the area, even under the ceasefire.
According to Israeli clarifications, the aim of this deployment is to protect the northern settlements, while maintaining the freedom to carry out air and artillery operations within this range during the calm period.
The report indicates that the forces continue to operate within this zone against what it calls “armed elements and infrastructure,” even during the ceasefire period, as part of what it considers “defensive measures.”
