Israeli Admission of “Miscalculation” as Hezbollah Expands the Battle and Strikes Deep Inside Israel with Cluster Rockets and Drones
Hebrew reports say the group’s attacks have reached 120 km deep, targeting military bases and northern settlements amid escalating ground clashes in southern Lebanon
NYN | Reports and Analyses
A senior Israeli official has acknowledged a major miscalculation in intelligence and military assessments regarding Hezbollah’s capabilities, stating that the Israeli army did not expect the group to enter the current confrontation with this level of intensity and escalation.
Israel’s Channel 13 quoted the official as saying that previous estimates misjudged the scale of Hezbollah’s military readiness and operational capabilities, particularly in light of the rapidly evolving developments on the northern front.
Cluster rockets strike Metula
In a notable field development, Hebrew media outlets reported that Hezbollah used cluster rockets for the first time in an attack targeting the settlement of Metula near the Lebanese border.
According to the reports, the strike caused extensive material damage. Israeli police explosives experts described the projectiles as “highly dangerous,” warning residents not to approach the impact sites due to the possibility of unexploded submunitions.
Attacks reaching 120 kilometers deep
According to the same sources, Hezbollah has expanded the scope of its military operations to reach nearly 120 kilometers inside Israel. The group reportedly targeted the Tel HaShomer military base using a swarm of loitering drones, while simultaneously striking concentrations of Israeli forces in and around the settlement of Metula.
Hezbollah’s military media also released footage it said documented the destruction of a Merkava tank during clashes in southern Lebanon, indicating that ground battles along the border are continuing and intensifying.
Ambush of Israeli force south of Khiam
Regarding ground operations, Hezbollah announced that it carried out a well-planned ambush against an Israeli force south of the city of Khiam. The group said it also targeted a reinforcement unit that attempted to intervene and rescue the trapped force with concentrated rocket barrages, leading to violent clashes that lasted for several hours in the area.
Escalation places Tel Aviv in a military dilemma
Analysts believe that the simultaneous escalation and the use of more advanced weapons, such as cluster rockets and long-range drones, place the Israeli military leadership under significant pressure—especially following the official acknowledgment of misjudging Hezbollah’s capabilities.
Observers suggest that Hezbollah may be gradually deploying its military options as the war continues, potentially opening the door to a more complex and broader phase of confrontation along the Lebanese front.
