IDF has “once-in-a-generation” opportunity to permanently defeat Hezbollah, says former colonel.
By World Israel News Staff
An ex-senior Israeli military official urged the IDF to leverage the “rare opportunity” to permanently defeat the Hezbollah terror group, calling on the political echelon to make “brave decisions” during the ongoing campaign.
Israel must take decisive action to clear the threat on its northern border once and for all, retired Colonel Kobi Marom told Radio 103FM on Tuesday morning.
Marom poured cold water on the possibility of increasing military pressure forcing Hezbollah to negotiate an end to the conflict.
Hezbollah will “not sit down for negotiations,” he said, pointing to nearly a year of talks that failed to produce a diplomatic solution.
Instead, Marom said, Israel should focus on finally achieving a decisive victory over Hezbollah.
“There is a rare, once-in-a-generation opportunity here; it’s time for brave decisions,” Marom stressed.
If Israel does not “take advantage” of the current momentum, it would be a “disaster for generations to come,” he continued.
He warned that if the defense and political establishment does not choose the route of strengthening the intensity of the campaign against Hezbollah, “the escalation cycles will continue, and we will enter a war of attrition – which is what the Iranians want.”
According to Marom, an IDF ground invasion of southern Lebanon is necessary to drive Hezbollah north of the Litani River and ensure that displaced residents of Israel’s north can safely return home.
Conquering Lebanon south of the Litani “is a mission the IDF can accomplish within two weeks,” he said. “This is an opportunity we cannot miss.”
Marom’s message to the IDF, urging the military to deal a crushing blow to Hezbollah, comes hours after a Biden administration official said that Washington is floating various ceasefire proposals aimed at ending the conflict.
The official would not elaborate on the details of the proposals, nor would eh explain how the differed from the agreement pushed by the U.S. for nearly a year, to no avail.