Israel Promises Quick Victory in Next War with Hizbullah
Israel has reiterated its threats against Lebanon amid talk about practical scenarios where the Israeli army would occupy the area south of the Litani and end its war with Hizbullah in a "quick and decisive victory."
The Jerusalem Post, quoting Israeli military sources, said the elite Golani Brigade has only recently concluded a one-week maneuver on the Golan Heights amid talk about the possibility that Israel could wage war both on Syria and Hizbullah.
A senior Israeli officer told the daily that since Israel considers Hizbullah as a "partner" in the Lebanese government with veto powers, there is no reason to separate targets belonging to the Shiite group from others belonging to Lebanese areas in the next war.
Consequently, any assault to be launched by Hizbullah on Israel is "basically" a Lebanese attack on the Jewish state.
The sources said the Israeli army has put in place "practical plans" that should lead to "quick and decisive victory" within four or five days in its next war on Lebanon.
They said Israel”s chief of staff Lt. Gen. Gaby Ashkenazi has urged the Cabinet to give its "green-light" to the army to heavily bombard the Lebanese infrastructure "so long as Hizbullah is a partner in the government."
The sources said the Israeli plan called for two phases: The first to destroy Hizbullah infrastructure by means of aerial attacks hoping this would end the war, while in the second the Israeli army would resort to launching a large-scale ground assault into the Litani River where the majority of Hizbullah-owned short-range missiles are believed hidden.
The Jerusalem Post quoted the same sources as saying that no date has been set for launch war.