An Assessment of the 2006 Lebanon-Israeli War

The 2006 Lebanon-Israeli War, also known as the July War, is popularly regarded as a Hezbollah victory. The conflict represented the fifth time in the past 30 years that Israeli forces have entered Lebanon with the intent of clearing the border area of terrorists. Israeli ineptitude combined with thorough Hezbollah preparation of the battlespace produced the perception of a Hezbollah victory. One likely result of the war is that opponents of the United States will attempt to replicate Hezbollahs successes. Careful study of the conflict by western military professionals will prepare them for the enemy tactics, techniques, and procedures that will likely appear on future battlefields. The 2006 conflict in Lebanon between Israel and the terrorist group Hezbollah serves as an example of what has been described Hybrid War. It offers lessons learned for American policy makers and joint commanders as the United States fights militant extremists in Afghanistan and Pakistans tribal areas. These lessons include the imperative of strategy-policy match, the need for proper war preparation, and the importance of sanctuary for terrorist organizations.