Hezbollahs Tunnels Offer Sneak Peek At Looming Major Conflict With Israel

(The Hill) Lt. Gen. Kenneth Glueck (Ret.) Lt. Gen. Michael Tucker (Ret.) Lt. Col. Geoffrey Corn 02/25/19 07:50 AM For weeks Israeli and Lebanese soldiers have eyed each other uneasily at close range while Israeli engineers neutralize cross-border infiltration tunnels. These sophisticated tunnels clearly intended to attack civilians embody Hezbollahs ongoing efforts to threaten substantial harm to Israel. They are also a reminder of that borders fragile calm and the potential for major destruction and suffering that would befall both Israeli and Lebanese civilians in another conflict on Israels northern front. Israel undoubtedly could deal Hezbollah a crippling military blow in such a conflict. Indeed Hezbollah has no illusion of military victory. Instead it will seek to de-legitimize Israel in the court of public opinion by illegally exposing civilians to harm on both sides of the border and then exploiting widespread misunderstanding about the laws of war. These concerns were central to the Jewish Institute for National Security of Americas (JINSA) Hybrid Warfare Task Force and its fact-finding mission to Israel earlier this year. The ensuing task force report examined the operational and legal challenges Israel would face in another northern war. Though unknown by us or the public during our visit the ongoing discoveries of these terror tunnels offer valuable glimpses into this looming war.