Hezbollah’s Deterrence: A Turning Point in the Middle East Conflict

For the first time in modern history, a non-state actor—Hezbollah—has successfully established deterrence over one of the most formidable armies in the world, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF), and the most dominant military force in the Middle East. Hezbollah’s capacity to inflict substantial damage on Israel has compelled the latter to recognise its capabilities, leading to a significant shift in the strategic balance of power. Employing inexpensive rockets and drones, Hezbollah has regained the upper hand and executed a calculated retaliation against Israel, even as US and NATO forces have mobilised in defence of Israel. Despite this, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that the IOF had successfully launched a pre-emptive strike against Hezbollah, allegedly preventing the launch of over 1,000 to 6,000 missiles aimed at Tel Aviv. However, no secondary explosions were observed, nor were there any confirmed Hezbollah casualties among the missile launch units or the warehouse guards reportedly targeted and killed in the Israeli strikes. This article examines how Hezbollah has established deterrence, the lack of credibility of Israel’s claims of pre-emptive action, and the broader implications for the Middle East.

Hezbollah’s recent actions have marked a significant shift in the region’s power dynamics. By launching 320 rockets and drones across the Lebanese border and targeting areas over 100 kilometres inland, including north of Tel Aviv, Hezbollah demonstrated its military capabilities. These attacks followed the collapse of negotiation talks in Qatar and came during the anticipated resumption of negotiations in Cairo.

Hezbollah’s bombing of strategic Israeli military positions deep inside the country reflected its precise intelligence capabilities and its ability to bypass Israel’s sophisticated missile interception systems. The over 100-kilometre range of the Hezbollah strike mirrored Israel’s violation of the Rule of Engagement, which saw Israel bombing the Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh and assassinating one of Hezbollah’s Jihadi Council commander, Fouad Shukr. Despite Israeli threats, Hezbollah’s retaliatory strikes underscored its readiness to act, establishing a new phase of deterrence.

Netanyahu’s Dubious Claims of Pre-emptive Strikes

Netanyahu’s claim that a pre-emptive strike by the IOF had destroyed Hezbollah’s missile-launching positions and prevented an attack on Tel Aviv has been met with scepticism. According to Netanyahu, the strike supposedly destroyed over 1,000 to 6,000 missiles but failed to cause heavy casualties among Hezbollah’s specialised units. However, Hezbollah’s immediate response, which involved the launching of hundreds of rockets and drones, challenges Israel’s narrative.

If Israel’s pre-emptive strike had indeed neutralised Hezbollah’s missile-launching capabilities, Hezbollah’s retaliatory barrage would have been unlikely. The scale and precision of Hezbollah’s subsequent attacks indicate that Israel’s strike did not achieve the level of success Netanyahu claimed. The long-prepared response shows that Hezbollah’s military infrastructure and operational capacity remain primarily intact, directly contradicting Israeli assertions of a crippling blow to Hezbollah’s forces.

Hezbollah’s Arsenal and Tactical Restraint

Israel has long maintained that Hezbollah possesses an extensive missile arsenal, with estimates reaching up to 250,000 missiles, including short, medium, and long-range precision-guided munitions. Given the sheer size of this arsenal, the destruction of 1,000 or even 6,000 missiles would not critically impair Hezbollah’s ability to wage war or retaliate. Large-scale pre-emptive strikes by Israel would be insufficient to disturb Hezbollah’s offensive capabilities comprehensively.

In this fire exchange, Hezbollah refrained from using its medium and long-range precision missiles, reserving them for future engagements. This strategic restraint underscores Hezbollah’s careful management of its arsenal, opting instead to use older and less sophisticated rockets and drones. Even with hundreds of rockets, Hezbollah was able to effectively breach Israeli defences, further illustrating its capacity to mount significant retaliatory strikes without exhausting its more advanced assets.

Tactical Precision and Israel’s Weak Justification

Israel’s pre-emptive strike claims rest on the assumption that neutralising Hezbollah’s missile-launching positions would significantly diminish its threat. However, Hezbollah’s rapid and forceful retaliation undermines this justification. Hezbollah has developed an extensive network of concealed missile depots, underground bunkers, and mobile launchers, making it extremely difficult for Israel or its Western allies to detect and destroy them pre-emptively.

Strategic Calculations and the “Axis of Resistance”

Hezbollah’s determined but calculated restraint in withholding its more advanced missiles is a powerful deterrence mechanism. This strategic decision signals to Israel that Hezbollah retains the capacity for a much more devastating response should the conflict escalate further. Hezbollah’s leadership understands the importance of maintaining a credible deterrence posture, ensuring that Israel remains cautious about provoking an all-out war that could severely damage its infrastructure and military assets.

Hezbollah’s response also revealed a crucial aspect of the “Axis of Resistance”—the alliance between Iran, Hezbollah, and other regional forces opposed to Israel. Hezbollah’s independent retaliation demonstrated that these groups do not necessarily need to coordinate their strikes to effectively challenge Israel on multiple fronts simultaneously. This independent action by Hezbollah shifted the focus back to the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Palestine, diverting attention from the wider regional tensions that had built up in recent months.

Broader Middle East Implications

Hezbollah’s retaliation not only altered Israel’s strategic calculus but also helped dissipate the regional tension that had been building over recent months. Netanyahu’s escalation against multiple Middle Eastern capitals had brought additional thousands of Western troops into the region, raising the spectre of a broader conflict that the US was keen to avoid. By executing its planned revenge strike, Hezbollah returned the spotlight to Gaza, undermining Netanyahu’s narrative that he alone could protect Israel from its many enemies.

The US has since sent a message to Lebanon indicating that Israel considers the situation de-escalated, suggesting that the Israeli leadership recognises Hezbollah’s deterrence. Israel’s reluctance to escalate further suggests that Hezbollah’s retaliation has restored the rules of engagement that Israel had violated with its bombing of Beirut. This underscores the profound impact of Hezbollah’s actions on the region’s geopolitical landscape.

Hezbollah’s establishment of deterrence against Israel marks a significant milestone in the ongoing conflict between the two sides. The group’s ability to launch precise strikes deep into Israeli territory has forced Israel to acknowledge Hezbollah’s growing military prowess. Netanyahu’s claims of a successful pre-emptive strike against Hezbollah are fraught with inconsistencies, as demonstrated by Hezbollah’s rapid and effective retaliation.

As Hezbollah continues to gather experience and test Israel’s defences, the balance of power in the region is shifting. Israel remains a formidable military force, but Hezbollah’s growing capabilities suggest that any future conflict will be far more destructive on Israel than previous engagements since 1967. For now, Hezbollah has regained the upper hand, proving that a non-state actor can challenge one of the world’s most powerful militaries and emerge with strategic leverage.

Hezbollah’s Deterrence: A Turning Point in the Middle East Conflict