Julia Kassem
‘The Israelis are advancing…into their own ambush’ – Al Manar Reporter Samer Haj Ali
The Israelis aim to create an image of rapid progress in south Lebanon through aerial photos and drone footage. However, capturing these visuals does not necessarily translate into real ground gains, challenging their narrative of advancement.
Israel, reluctant to face Hezbollah due to expected casualties, concentrates on projecting the illusion of strategic success. The use of drone images as proof underscores their focus on optics rather than confirmed ground achievements.
Media outlets, local and international alike, amplify Israel’s invasion narrative. By broadcasting threats and speculating on action as inevitable, they reinforce psychological tactics that favor Israel’s intended perception rather than the on-ground reality.
The Myth of “Incursions”
Israel’s first attempt at an incursion took place in the southeastern town of Nabi Sheet, which resulted in monumental failure from the Zionist entity alongside a glorious and epic standoff by the village’s residents, who took up arms – household handguns or otherwise – against the Israeli planes invading from Syria (testimonies reveal that women joined in on the firefight).
The next push came in the southeastern sector, with attempted breakthroughs through the towns of Kfar Kila, Khiam, Hula, and Kfar Shouba. This was an attempt to encircle the South, again using Jolani’s Syria as a launching pad, by entering from the southern Bekaa.
Despite the Zionist entity broadcasting its “success” at breaking through the area, attempting to enter the center of Khiam through the east on March 14, any incursions in the Khiam area had already come from its existing presence there established at Hammames hill in the east during the so-called ‘ceasefire,’ where it took advantage of its post-regime change invasion of Syria and continued occupation of the Golan Heights and the Shebaa Farms to make an incursion under the cover of US diplomatic pressure on the Lebanese government.
Hezbollah waged fierce battles of resistance against the invading Israelis. Resistance fighters formed pockets positioned towards sites of the invading Israeli armies, consistently attacking groups attempting an incursion with missile salvos. They destroyed dozens of Merkava tanks with the help of guided drones. The Israelis tried to throw smoke screens of white phosphorous into points in Khiam and Tayybeh to aid in their advancement. However, those efforts did not save them or their Merkava tanks.
Iranian and Hezbollah rocket fire targeted key Zionist military sites in the north. These strikes began from the origin points of Zionist breaches. Hezbollah controlled the ground while collaborating in the air.
Iconic footage released by the Resistance group shows one of the FPV UAV drones crashing into a Merkava at Houla, south Lebanon. This move draws inspiration from Russia’s Special Operation. Clear shots also show tanks destroyed in broad daylight in al-Bayyada and Taybeh. In 2026, the Massacre of Merkavas barely passed the border.
The next axis of entry came in the Central Sector, in Yaroun and Alma al-Shaab. Invading Zionist forces there have come under fire from a week of rocket barrage.
Lately, the current axis of battle has been concentrated on the coastal Western sector, around Naqoura & Tire. As was done in 2006, Israel began its preparations for this incursion by destroying bridges, particularly the Qasmieh bridge, in a futile attempt to destroy supply lines to the Resistance.
Manufacturing Confidence
Despite repeated battlefield losses, which have thus far translated into no ground gained and no captured territory for the entity, its ceasefire violations and invasions are actually rendering it counterproductive. Instead of an easy advancement, Israel’s presence along the five points in Southern Lebanon have lured it into a trap, where decentralized pockets of resistance fighters approaching the Zionist armies for the killing, teaming up with IRGC forces to strike groupings and positions at bases and military sites before entry, and ambushing them repeatedly on the ground multiple times at virtually every point of entry.
With Hezbollah’s combat organization mirroring the 90s-era Southern Lebanon attrition battles and its fighting style exceeding that of 2006 (again, with a reprisal of IDF testimonies of “fighting ghosts”), the Lebanese Resistance group has been brought back better and stronger than ever.
“Israel Hayom” quoted Major General (Res.) Gershon Hacohen as saying:
"The war in Lebanon is causing great concern among the public. Against a backdrop of distrust, many are asking:
If Hezbollah was truly defeated as they were told, how did it manage to recover so quickly?"
— 🇱🇧 ☫ (@ebnShihinreborn) April 1, 2026
March 31st, marked the ‘bloodiest day’ for the Israelis, admitting to the elimination of 4 of its occupying army soldiers and wounding 3 others in Beit Lif, Southern Lebanon. There’s little doubt the actual casualty count is much higher after Hezbollah lured a Nahal Brigade force into an ambush.
The day after, Hezbollah and the IRGC kicked off the month of April by firing the heaviest barrage of missiles since the beginning of the war. Hezbollah continues to send drones and missiles into Western area coastal settlements, Nahariyya and Liman, while still attacking points in the far East of the border, south of Khiam.
Hezbollah continues to challenge the entity on land and by air. Weeks after breaking a 200 km range in a missile firing that reached Ashkelon, the Gaza envelope, the Lebanese Resistance launched a SCUD missile at the Palmachim Air Base south of Tel Aviv, and the night before, downed a Hermes-450 spy drone over Aichiyeh in South Lebanon. As of the beginning of April, Hezbollah has escalated its operations 235% more than in the first week and is committed to increasing the pace of escalation. Meanwhile, the Entity is now not only unable to deter Hezbollah and the IRGC, but is unable to find any face-saving exit, having fallen even further than their objectives than pre-February 28.
Fearing Israeli encirclement and complying with American demands, the Lebanese Army withdrew from the south border Christian villages of Rmeich, Ein Ebel, and Debel – angering the base that called for international and army protection of their towns in the first place. Left defenseless, though steadfastly refusing to leave their villages and lands, Israel plans to use these villages as human shields and entry points and has not spared their residents, churches, and buildings from attacks, bombings, and killings.
Losing the war of perception
The Israeli Occupation is invested in ensuring it retains the monopoly of perception in Southern Lebanon just as much as the United States is invested in saving face in light of their loss over the Strait of Hormuz – and with it the projection of US power. US dollar hegemony has historically been buoyed by US military force, with the illusion disappearing with Iran’s assertion of domestic and regional power and nationalization of the Strait of Hormuz. With each escalation, Hezbollah and Iran break through the facade of moribund America’s threat of force, and with it, put Trump’s brinksmanship on the brink of extinction.
Julia Kassem is a writer published in Al-Akhbar, PressTV, Al-Mayadeen English & Arabic and various other outlets
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