The discussions that are presented in this paper focus on two central issues. The first issue characterizes Israeli intelligence operation in Lebanon prior to the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, as well as Israeli intelligence operations during the course of the conflict. The second issue is the assessment of the lessons learned in relation to intelligence operations as a result of the war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Characterizing Israeli Intelligence Operations in Lebanon Prior to the 2006 War and During the Course of the War
The spark that ignited hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in the summer of 2006 was the capture by Hezbollah of two Israeli Defense Force (IDF) soldiers along the Israel-Lebanon border and the killing of three IDF soldiers. The attack by Hezbollah was a cross-border operation. The deaths and the captures occurred in Southern Israel. Israel retaliated immediately. Hostilities were initiated on 12 July 2006 (Gray, 2006).
Israel conducted extensive intelligence operations within Lebanon prior to the outbreak of hostilities in July 2006. A crucial element of these intelligence operations was the use of residents of the area of Lebanon that was under the virtual control of Hezbollah in Lebanon. The resident intelligence operatives provided extensive data on the resources, operations, and strategies of Hezbollah in Lebanon. The information provided was both detailed and accurate (Bar, 2007; Kober, 2008; Matthews, 2009).
Another important element in the Israeli intelligence operations in Lebanon before the commencement of hostilities involved electronic warfare (EW). Israeli intelligence monitored Hezbollah in Lebanon communications traffic and military movements. Again, these intelligence operations generated extensive data on the resources, operations, and strategies of Hezbollah in Lebanon. Again also, the information pr...