https://understandingwar.org/sites/default/files/Israel%20Lebanon%20Victory%20PDF.pdf>Israeli operations in Lebanon have defeated Hezbollah and compelled thegroup to end its involvement in the October 7 War.
On November 26, Israel and
Hezbollah reached a ceasefire deal that ended Hezbollah's attacks into Israel and required
the group to disarm in southern Lebanon.[1] These conditions achieve the stated Israeli
war aim of safely returning displaced citizens to their homes in northern Israel. The
ceasefire ensures the Israeli right to self-defense against any future threat that Hezbollah
may pose as well.[2] Hezbollah, on the other hand, is severely degraded and has failed to
achieve its stated war aim of compelling Israel to accept a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.[3]
Israel’s victory and Hezbollah’s defeat have drastically changed the security landscape in
the Middle East by limiting Hezbollah’s ability to deter Israel. Though Israel has won this
round of conflict in Lebanon, Hezbollah will almost certainly begin reconstituting its
forces and likely try re-entrenching itself in southern Lebanon at some point. The United
States and Israel must ensure that Hezbollah adheres to the ceasefire. If Hezbollah
violates the ceasefire, the United States must permit Israel to use force to disrupt Hezbollah's efforts to rebuild its forces and the threat that it poses to Israel.
