Hezbollah’s acting leader, Naim Kassem, has revealed that the group has adopted a new strategic approach aimed at making Israel “feel pain.” Speaking in the context of the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, Kassem explained that the group’s tactics have shifted over the past week, though he provided limited details about the exact nature of the changes.
One significant incident occurred on Sunday when a Hezbollah drone strike killed four Israeli soldiers deep within Israeli territory. This attack exemplifies the evolving nature of Hezbollah’s military campaign, which now includes the use of advanced weaponry, such as drones and precision missiles. Kassem has justified the group’s actions by claiming that Hezbollah has the right to strike anywhere in Israel, especially in response to Israeli strikes on Lebanon.
Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have observed new tactics used by Hezbollah in its recent rocket and drone assaults on Israel. According to the ISW, Hezbollah has increasingly employed a strategy known as “indirect fire.” This method involves launching a barrage of rockets, offensive drones, and precision missiles at a particular target, while simultaneously conducting other strikes elsewhere. The tactic is designed to overwhelm Israel’s defences by using imprecise fire to divert attention from more accurate precision strikes.
The development of this tactic appears to be the result of Hezbollah’s year-long campaign targeting military sites in northern Israel. The group has used these combined assaults to challenge Israel’s ability to defend its territory, making the conflict more unpredictable.
Kassem also called for an immediate ceasefire, urging Israel to halt its attacks on both Gaza and Lebanon. He warned that if the attacks continued, the more than two million Israelis living in northern Israel would remain under constant threat from Hezbollah. Kassem emphasised that the resistance in Lebanon would not be defeated, asserting that they are prepared to fight and die with dignity, while victory would eventually be achieved through patience.