Hezbollah changes the rules of the game — an assessment that worries the IDF

The security situation for Israel is sharply deteriorating amid events on several fronts. The incident in Majdal Zun, where two IDF soldiers were killed and four wounded, is seen as a worrying signal: Hezbollah seeks to shift to guerrilla warfare tactics, coordinating with Iran. The IDF's response was delayed and limited. In the Gaza Strip, Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir announced restrictions on targeted killings. In Judea and Samaria, new settlements are planned, requiring troop redeployment and an increase in reservists.

The security situation for Israel is sharply deteriorating amid events on several fronts. The incident in the town of Majdal Zun in western southern Lebanon, where two IDF soldiers were killed and four others wounded as a result of an explosive device detonating in a building, is seen as a worrying signal. According to the assessment, Hezbollah seeks to shift to guerrilla warfare tactics on the ground to challenge the IDF, with actions coordinated with the approval and timing of Iran. It is emphasized that Israel's response should have been harsh and significantly exceeding the scale of the incident itself, but the IDF's reaction proved delayed and limited. On the Gaza Strip front, the IDF is acting with restraint. Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, visited the region and stated that restrictions imposed by the political echelon imply a reduction in the practice of targeted killings: now any such actions not falling under the category of self-defense require approval at the level of the Chief of Staff or political leadership. Additional complications are expected in Judea and Samaria: with the beginning of the month of Elul and the approach of the Tishrei holiday period, the establishment of new Israeli settlements is planned, which will require an increased presence of security forces and the redeployment of units from the Gaza Strip. Amid growing tension, the IDF will likely need to increase the number of reservists: conscripts who have completed 32 months of service are receiving 'Order 8' summonses directly during leaves before discharge or immediately after formally completing their service in August.