What’s new:

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has underscored the urgent need for Haifa to be prepared for a possibly imminent conflict with the Hezbollah terrorist organization. The northern city is slated to face significant challenges due to the high volume and advanced capabilities of Hezbollah’s rocket arsenal.

Why it matters:

The potential scale of destruction to Haifa in a future conflict with Hezbollah is concerning, given Hezbollah’s possession of approximately 150,000 rockets and mortars. Capable of launching up to 8,000 rockets a day—far surpassing Hamas’s peak capabilities—these weapons pose a serious threat to Israel’s security infrastructure and civilian populations.

The big picture:

While Israeli defense officials remain confident in the military’s ability to ultimately degrade Hezbollah’s firepower and “win” the conflict, the anticipated damage to cities like Haifa could be substantial. Even with an 80-90% interception rate by the Iron Dome missile shield, the volume of rockets could still inflict significant harm on Israeli territories.

Between the lines:

Comparisons are being drawn with previous conflicts with Hamas where, albeit challenging, the damage and longevity of rocket fire from Hezbollah are expected to exceed previous encounters significantly. For Israel, this underlines the tactical necessity to ensure advanced preparations and reinforce defense strategies. The scenario predicts a difficult initial phase with a more substantial impact on the home front, outweighing recent experiences with Hamas.

Take note:

The somber assessment of Defense Minister Gallant rings alarm bells for cities like Haifa, indicating the severity of threats faced and the importance of sustained and strategic defense planning. The imminent challenge underscored acknowledges both the military prowess of the IDF and the narrowed tactical timelines against a well-armed Hezbollah.

This story was first published on jpost.com.