Skip to main content

Israel's Contrasting Military Strategies: Success in Lebanon, Struggles in Yemen

 

According to a recent analysis published in Asharq Al-Awsat by senior columnist Abdulrahman Al-Rashed, Israel's military operations have shown stark contrasts in effectiveness between Lebanon and Yemen, highlighting significant strategic differences in approach and outcomes.

Israel's campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon last year has been described as one of its most outstanding military achievements since the Six-Day War of 1967. The 13-month operation demonstrated unprecedented precision and intelligence capabilities, with Israeli forces successfully eliminating most of Hezbollah's top leadership and turning off their offensive arsenal while largely sparing civilian infrastructure.

"During last year's battles in Lebanon, civilian life in most of the country remained nearly normal, and infrastructure wasn't targeted," notes Al-Rashed. This stands in marked contrast to Israel's 2006 Lebanon war, when the country's civilian infrastructure suffered extensive damage, including airports, ports, power stations, and approximately 100 bridges.

The precision of Israel's recent Lebanon operations was so remarkable that photographers and journalists could position themselves to document airstrikes after their announcements, filming targeted buildings from proximity while civilian aircraft continued normal operations at nearby Rafik Hariri International Airport.

However, Israel's military actions against Yemen's Houthi rebels have proven far less effective. Since January, Israel has conducted six strikes against Houthi targets. Still, these operations have been described as "more theatrical than effective" despite the Houthis lacking air defense capabilities or a substantial missile arsenal.

Military analysts cite several factors to explain this disparity. First, Israel likely lacks the extensive intelligence network in Yemen that it has cultivated in Lebanon over decades. Without detailed intelligence, precision targeting becomes significantly more challenging.

"Israel doesn't have a strong target bank in Yemen, which is why it resorted to bombing ports, the airport, and roads to halt the reception and transport of weapons," explains Al-Rashed. This approach mirrors Israel's less successful 2006 Lebanon strategy rather than its more sophisticated 2024 operations.

Another possibility is that Israel may be deliberately limiting its Yemen operations, content with proportional responses to the relatively limited threat posed by Houthi missiles and drones. Most Houthi projectiles have missed their targets or caused only brief disruptions to Israeli air traffic and civilian life.

The Houthi movement itself represents a small minority of Yemen's population—approximately 7 percent—and maintains control through intimidation and tribal alliances. These alliances could quickly dissolve if the group's military strength were to diminish significantly.

Despite their technological displays through drone and missile launches, Al-Rashed characterizes the Houthis as "primitive cave fighters from the Middle Ages" who are "like moths drawn to a flame" in their confrontation with Israel's superior military capabilities.

Popular posts from this blog

Sovereignty as Spectacle: Turkish Cypriot Researcher Critiques Grand Opening of the Northern Cyprus New "Republican Campus"

On Saturday, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), which is not recognized internationally, officially launched its new "Republican Campus." The first construction phase features the new Presidential Building and Parliament Building, inaugurated during a grand ceremony attended by Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Dubbed by critics as a "show of sovereignty," the event, alongside the concurrent Teknofest technology festival, has drawn criticism from Turkish Cypriot researcher-writer Mete Hatay for its political undertones and symbolic messaging. Hatay, a noted peace researcher affiliated with the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), argues that the openings were not merely about inaugurating buildings but about constructing symbols of dominance under the guise of sovereignty. Hatay describes the events as meticulously staged platforms for political agendas. "Today in Northern Cyprus, it wasn't just buildings that were opened; symbols w...

Cyprus Archbishop's Easter Message Lost in Translation, Sparking Controversy

A mistranslation of Cyprus' Orthodox Archbishop Georgios' Easter message has ignited a new wave of tensions between Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities on the divided island. Turkish Cypriot media outlets reported that the Archbishop called for "expelling the Turks and saving the homeland," prompting swift condemnation from Turkish Cypriot political figures, including opposition leader Tufan Erhürman. According to Kıbrıs Postası 's bulletin published on April 20, 2025, Archbishop Georgios issued an Easter message urging "Greece, Southern Cyprus, and all Hellenism to make a coordinated effort to expel the Turks and save the homeland." The report further claimed the Archbishop stated there was "no possibility of making any more concessions" in the current situation. In response, Tufan Erhürman , leader of the social democrat Republican Turkish Party (CTP), issued a strongly-worded statement criticizing what he called "discriminatory and pr...

Is Turkey's New Rising Political Star's Future in Danger?

In a development that could dramatically alter Turkey's political landscape, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's presidential ambitions face a serious challenge as pro-government sources report his university diploma may soon be invalidated. According to prominent pro-government journalist Abdulkadir Selvi, Istanbul University is expected to complete a report today that could lead to the cancellation of Imamoglu's diploma, effectively disqualifying him from running for president of Turkey. Critical Findings in University Investigation The investigation centers around allegations that Imamoglu's lateral transfer from American University of Kyrenia to Istanbul University violated educational regulations. The Council of Higher Education (YÖK) has already issued a report claiming that American University of Kyrenia was not recognized by YÖK at the time Imamoglu made his transfer. "Istanbul University's investigation has been completed, and the...