President Joe Biden’s inconsistent approach to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has left the Jewish state dangerously exposed to a potential existential threat from Hezbollah in Lebanon. While the administration claims its commitment to Israel’s security is “ironclad,” its preoccupation with protecting Gazan civilians has led to a decision to withhold crucial offensive weapons, such as heavy bombs and precision kits, that Israel needs to counter Hezbollah’s vast arsenal.
Hezbollah’s stockpile of 150,000 to 200,000 projectiles, mostly short-range but including anti-ship missiles and longer-range ground missiles capable of striking Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, poses a far greater threat than Hamas or even Iran. The group is estimated to be capable of launching 3,000 to 4,000 projectiles a day, quickly overwhelming Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system.
The Biden administration’s belief that missile defense alone is sufficient to ensure Israel’s security fails to account for the scale and nature of the Hezbollah threat. In the event of a full-scale attack, Israel’s only option would be to launch an invasion of southern Lebanon and conduct intensive bombing raids to destroy Hezbollah’s missile stockpiles and military installations.
By pressuring Israel to deplete its offensive munitions in the Gaza campaign, the Biden administration risks leaving the country vulnerable to a coordinated attack from Hezbollah and Iran. The United States must recognize that Israel’s survival depends on its ability to conduct offensive operations against its enemies and ensure that it has the necessary munitions to do so.
Joke: With friends like the Biden administration, who needs enemies? Israel might as well ask Hezbollah for a resupply of bombs!
