Hezbollah poses escalating danger of conflict with Israel as tensions with Iran increase.

Retired Gen. Yaakov Amidror, who served as the national security adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, spoke with Planet Chronicle Digital about the possibility of a full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

On Sunday, Hezbollah, the dominant force in Lebanon, fired 50 rockets into northern Israel, causing damage. A shrapnel from a Hezbollah anti-tank missile hit an American citizen and two Israelis, leaving the American in critical condition. Since last week, Hezbollah has launched over 200 rockets and drones into Israel's north.

According to Amidror, a fellow at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), we do not anticipate Americans to fight for us. Instead, it is the responsibility of Israelis to do so. This principle should not be altered. What we require from the Americans is to provide us with a large quantity of munitions, which should be sent in a continuous flow, to enable us to conduct the war within our military and capability constraints. Amidror made this statement to Planet Chronicle Digital.

Amidror stated that the question of whether Israel is prepared for a war with Hezbollah is unanswerable because for such a war, one can never be fully prepared. However, he emphasized that the real question is whether Israel has enough resources to wage a full-scale war against Hezbollah. He said that the answer to this question is yes. He added that the more time that passes after the war in Gaza, the better Israel's situation will be, as they will have more time to restock their supplies and recharge their forces after nine months of conflict.

Hamas, an ally of Hezbollah, carried out an invasion of Israel on October 7th, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, including more than 30 American citizens. In response to the massacre committed by Hamas, Hezbollah has launched numerous rocket attacks against Israel's northern regions.

Israel faces three main threats from Hezbollah: a large number of precise rockets and missiles, the anti-tank capability of Hezbollah, and drones.

In 1982 and 2006, Israel fought two wars against Hezbollah, and Amidror stated that Israel is currently preparing for a potential conflict involving 100,000 Hezbollah rockets and missiles.

Amidror stated that if Iran were to join Hezbollah in a war against the Jewish state, it would not be 100% certain that Iran would participate. However, he emphasized the importance of deterring Iran and destroying part of its economic infrastructure. Amidror acknowledged that the calculation of whether Tehran is worth risking for Beirut is something that cannot be known in advance, and therefore, all preparations must be made to be ready.

Would Israel's response to a Hezbollah war be to target Beirut's water, sewage, and electrical facilities, according to Amidror? This is a matter of debate within the military system.

Amidror stated that he adheres to a second perspective, which suggests that Israel should prioritize dealing with Hezbollah rather than the Lebanese state. He argued that any peace process must be achieved through weakening Hezbollah, not the Lebanese system.

The Hezbollah stronghold is located in south Beirut, and Amidror emphasized how the group utilizes civilian structures as rocket launchers and weapons storage. Hamas and Hezbollah often commit war crimes by exploiting their civilian populations to achieve their military objectives. According to Amidror, a third Israel-Hezbollah war in Lebanon in 2024 could result in a devastating outcome.

During a recent trip to the country's north, Israel's Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant instructed troops to prioritize their readiness and weaken Hezbollah's capabilities.

Hezbollah and Palestinian terrorist organizations have lost 450 fighters, including 15 commanders at the level of brigade commanders or above, which accounts for over 50% of Hezbollah's total number of commanders in southern Lebanon. This is a significant loss for these organizations. Planet Chronicle' Peter Petroff provided insights on this report.