Israel’s targeting of Lebanese soldiers and their vehicles has raised questions about its attacks, especially amid discussions about the role the Lebanese army will play after the end of the war with Hezbollah.
Twenty-five Lebanese soldiers have been killed since Hezbollah opened its “support front” for its ally Hamas in Gaza on October 8, 2023. The soldiers were killed while on duty, either in a direct hit or as a result of nearby Israeli attack.
The latest casualties were reported on Sunday. Three soldiers were killed when Israel directly struck their vehicle in the Ain Ebel region.
The Israeli military issued an apology on Monday, saying it did not know that the vehicle it was targeting belonged to the army.
Israel said it struck a truck on Sunday that had entered an area where it had previously targeted a Hezbollah truck transporting a launcher and missiles. It said its soldiers were not aware that the second truck belonged to the Lebanese army.
It added that it is “not operating against the Lebanese Army and apologizes for these unwanted circumstances.”
Around ten days ago, Israel also targeted a Lebanese army position in the Kafra region in the South, leaving two soldiers dead. It again said it did not know that Lebanese troops were stationed in the area.
The Israeli statements do not clear it of the responsibility of killing the soldiers, especially when Israel is already crossing all red lines, a military source told Asharq Al-Awsat.
The repeated attacks against the Lebanese army “could be a message from Israel to limit its movement and deployment of its forces at the southern border.” This is a similar tactic Israel is using with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
Israel wants to establish a buffer zone in the South and is adopting a scorched-earth policy. Nothing can stand in its way and it sees no red lines to stop it from pursuing its goal, added the source.
Some 4,500 soldiers are deployed in the South to primarily monitor the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1701 and the violations against it.
The soldiers moved back between 3 to 4 kms when Israel escalated its attacks against Hezbollah earlier this month, said the source.
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati had declared earlier this month that he had tasked Army Commander Joseph Aoun with “doing what he sees fit to protect Lebanon and its military institution given the Israeli assault on Lebanon.”
Retired General Walid Aoun said: “There doesn’t seem to be any clear decision by Israel to attack the Lebanese army.”
In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he noted that during the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, the former struck an army barracks in the al-Jomhour region after claiming that it suspected it be a rocket base. Over 20 soldiers were killed in the attack.
“Israel is determined to achieve its goals and so it will not take into account other factors. So, if the army happens to be deployed near its targets, it will not hesitate in making the strike, regardless of the consequences,” he explained.
However, he expressed his concern over the negative impact the strikes will have on the army should they continue, seeing as the military will have a main role to play in the implementation of resolution 1701 in the South when the conflict is over.
Moreover, he explained that the role of the army is stipulated by the political powers and government. They task it with its duties. “As of yet, the army has not been tasked with confronting the enemy,” Aoun remarked.
