Yesterday (22 December), in an airstrike on a vehicle near the village of Qnaitra, three Hezbollah operatives were eliminated. One of them, Ali Abdullah, was a Hezbollah operative who served concurrently in the Intelligence unit of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).
Abdullah had previously also served in the LAF’s anti-tank battalion—a unit responsible for training army battalions and special brigades in the use of various weapons systems. Its personnel undergo combat training courses that include raids, live fire, and the establishment of checkpoints. In his most recent role, as noted, he served in the LAF Intelligence unit. He was therefore an individual with significant military training and access to sensitive information and infrastructure.
The two other eliminated operatives were Mustafa Mohammad Balout, an operative in Hezbollah’s air defense array in the Sidon sector, and Hassan Hamdan. The publication of photos and a video showing the two together with Ali Abdullah singing a song in praise of Nasrallah points to a close personal relationship among the three.
This case is not exceptional. Hezbollah employs numerous officers and soldiers within the LAF — most of them from the Shiite community—who assist the organization directly or indirectly. Their affiliation with Hezbollah stems from a combination of ideological, sectarian, familial, and sometimes social motivations (such as originating from the same village). These soldiers serve as enablers for Hezbollah and its operations in southern Lebanon against Israel.
Hezbollah operates systematically to recruit officers from within the LAF. It can then exploit them to gain access to military infrastructure and assets, coordinate activities, and even operate under the cover of LAF patrols.
Is the Lebanese Army capable—and is it even willing—to disarm Hezbollah? And to what extent can the disarmament figures published by the LAF be taken seriously, in light of Hezbollah’s deep penetration into its ranks?
“Abu al-Hadi (a nickname of Nasrallah), you are my eyes, you are more precious than anything
We will meet in the month of May, in memory of the victory…” (referring to Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon in May 2000)
One Response
Dear Dana,
Thanks for the good news update.
As my former employee Ike, (a former US Army WWII veteran wounded in action in the fight against the Nazi regime) used to say:
AJWD ( = Another Job Well Done!)
Thanks to the IDF for the enforcement of Justice against genocidal jihaddists!! AJWD!!