Hezbollah Sustains Coordinated Attacks on Israel, Leveraging Lessons from Previous Wars

More than two weeks into the renewed hostilities along the Israel-Lebanon border, Hezbollah has maintained a high tempo of operations against Israeli targets while coordinating closely with Iranian forces. A new report published today(Monday) by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center details the scope, tactics, and strategic intent behind the organization’s campaign, which began on March 1–2 following Israeli strikes on Lebanese territory.

Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for over 280 attacks since March 3, including rocket, missile, and UAV strikes, as well as direct engagements with Israel Defense Forces (IDF) positions in southern Lebanon. The organization frames its campaign as a defensive response to ongoing Israeli actions, emphasizing that Lebanese government efforts to halt Israeli “aggression” have failed. Secretary General Na’im Qassem cited regional developments, including the ongoing Israeli-American campaign against Iran, as factors influencing Hezbollah’s timing.

Hezbollah’s stated conditions for ending hostilities remain consistent, the Meir Amir Center researchers note: Cessation of Israeli attacks, withdrawal of IDF forces from Lebanese territory, the release of Lebanese detainees held by Israel, and the return of displaced residents to south Lebanon. Hezbollah also seeks to restore its so-called “deterrent equation” with Israel, effectively reversing changes since the October 8, 2023 escalation linked to Gaza.

The report highlights Hezbollah’s strategic shift toward decentralized and guerrilla-style operations, aimed at preserving operational continuity even under Israeli pressure. Elite units, such as the Radwan Force and the aerial UAV unit, have been redeployed following previous losses, and the organization has demonstrated the ability to coordinate multi-arena operations. Direct clashes with IDF forces in southern Lebanon indicate that, despite Lebanese army claims of controlling territory south of the Litani River, Hezbollah continues to maintain an operational presence in these areas.

Hezbollah named the current campaign “Operation Eaten Chaff” on March 11, citing a Quranic story to provide religious justification and signaling expectations of a prolonged confrontation. Leaders including Mahmoud Qamati and Muhammad Raad emphasized that Israel’s military posture suggested a potential preemptive strike, motivating Hezbollah to act first to protect its commanders, facilities, and assets. 

Hezbollah media has characterized the campaign as a legitimate exercise of self-defense, portraying the group as the central defender of Lebanese sovereignty while framing Israel as the primary provocateur.

The organization has concentrated operations along the border, particularly near Markaba, Aitaroun, Kafr Kila, Maroun al-Ras, and al-‘Adisa. Tactics include rocket and missile fire, suicide UAVs, artillery strikes, and small-cell engagements. ITIC notes that Hezbollah is employing lessons from prior conflicts, including mobile, decentralized maneuvers, reduced communications to limit Israeli interception, and the use of limited, precision strikes to conserve resources and maintain flexibility.

The March 11 phase of the operation involved simultaneous multi-site rocket barrages and UAV launches, including coordinated Iranian missile fire. While the IDF reports that approximately 200 rockets were successfully launched despite preemptive Israeli strikes, the operation demonstrated Hezbollah’s ability to execute large-scale, simultaneous attacks. Analysts argue these moves are designed to stress Israeli defenses across multiple arenas, limiting Israel’s freedom of action and complicating its operational planning.

The Meir Amir Center report further highlights Hezbollah’s use of psychological warfare, which includes daily claims of responsibility, maps of targeted areas, and visual documentation of attacks. While some claims– particularly those deep inside Israel – have not been independently verified, the effort reinforces Hezbollah’s image internally and externally as a resilient actor capable of sustained operations.

Between March 3 and March 14, the organization claimed 291 attacks, including 58 against Israeli communities, 61 against military bases, 32 targeting troop concentrations, and 24 against security infrastructure. The campaign combines long-range strikes with direct assaults on IDF positions, reflecting a strategy that preserves operational continuity, pressures Israel, and reinforces Hezbollah’s political and military position in Lebanon amid ongoing efforts to disarm the organization.

Hezbollah’s current campaign illustrates a deliberate, multi-dimensional approach, the report concludes: coordinated action with Iran, operational decentralization, integration of ground and aerial attacks, and psychological messaging designed to shape the perceptions of both Israel and the Lebanese public. The organization appears poised to continue operations until it secures its objectives, while preserving the ability to rebuild and sustain its military capabilities over time.