The IDF Commando Brigade is poised to play a critical role in a future war against Hezbollah. If large-scale combat erupts on the northern front, Israel’s prime elite force will be mobilized for significant military operations.
The Commando Brigade is armed with tremendous fire power and can hit Hezbollah fighters and targets deep in Lebanon. Colonel Kobi Heller, its former commander, said previously that Special Forces can deliver a massive response to enemy raids into Israel.
IDF commandos built exceptional cooperation with the Air Force to enable action in enemy territory, Heller said. The army can now reach Hezbollah’s key assets and disrupt its operations, forcing the Lebanese group to invest significantly in defense, he added.
Notably, the Commando Brigade trained intensively overseas to boost its ability to operate in unfamiliar locations. The forces also practiced a raid on Hezbollah’s heartland with over 1,000 troops.
In parallel, the Brigade built a capacity for rapid intervention in case of infiltration from Lebanon. Special Forces on standby can be mobilized quickly to counter raids targeting civilians and military bases.
New combat doctrine
Hezbollah is not fully aware of the vast capabilities developed by the IDF’s rapid response units, Colonel Heller said. The army will deploy a massive contingent of highly skilled fighters to block attackers at the border and then strike in enemy territory, he warned.
The Commando Brigade is capable of severely harming Hezbollah forces and destroying the group’s weapons and infrastructure, the senior commander said. Previously, another high-ranking officer warned that the IDF is preparing “surprises” for Hezbollah squads planning to attack Israel.
If a large war erupts, the Commando Brigade will be working alongside the IDF’s secretive Ghost Unit to neutralize Hezbollah threats. While Special Forces focus on paralyzing the terror group’s best forces and key facilities, Ghost will be mobilized to detect and eliminate rocket cells in Lebanon.
Notably, the IDF’s new combat doctrine stresses the use of elite units and massive firepower to quickly destroy numerous enemy targets. During an earlier war drill, the Air Force simulated attacks on 3,000 Hezbollah targets in one day.