Lebanon - What was Hezbollah's plan?

In just two weeks Hezbollah has fired over 1400 rockets into Israel. Which is an indication of just how many Hezbollah has stored in Lebanon.

In addition, Hezbollah soldiers are well armed and trained.

Dozens of Hizbullah gunmen armed with antitank missiles and machine guns and geared up in night-vision goggles and bulletproof vests set a trap for a force of Golani infantrymen led by Lt.-Col. Yaniv Asor, commander of Battalion 51. At 5 a.m. Wednesday, Asor and his men asked the Golani command center for permission to enter an area of the outskirts of Bint Jbail. Col. Tamir Yidai, commander of the brigade, gave the green light for the operation.

Asor and his men moved quickly through approximately 15 one-story homes. But as the troops moved through the narrow alleyways, a strong Hizbullah force sent a wave of gunfire and missiles at the force, killing and wounding several soldiers in the first moments of the fight. As Asor and his men fought to regain control of the situation, other Hizbullah cells outflanked them and opened fire on the force as well as other IDF positions in the town.

The battle lasted for several hours during which Asor and his men sustained heavy casualties and killed at least 40 Hizbullah guerrillas, some in gunbattles at point-blank range. Then the evacuation of the wounded began, which lasted six hours due to incessant enemy fire. Four IAF helicopter pilots risked their lives by landing in enemy territory.

The good news is the kill ratio was at least 5:1 in favor of the Israelis.

So, the question is, what was Hezbollah planning to do with all these missiles, armament and well trained army on Lebanese territory just across Israel's border? And since Lebanon allowed the Hezbollah forces to build the arsenal and army in its country, doesn't Lebanon share some of the blame for the current situation?

This would also seem to indicate that at some point, Israel was going to have to deal with the Hezbollah threat massing on its border.

UPDATE

More here.

July 26, 2006 -- JERUSALEM - Israel claimed victory in Hezbollah's southern "capital" yesterday after a battle in Lebanon that uncovered Iranian-made weapons and electronic equipment and left 150 guerrillas dead.

Israeli forces found "war rooms" equipped with Iranian surveillance and eavesdropping gear in Bint Jbail, the main Hezbollah stronghold just inside the border.

Note the kill ratio is much higher than previously reported.
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