Successive Losses for the Israeli Occupation Army in Lebanon: Has It Failed in Ground Battles?

Since the Israeli occupation expanded its campaign of annihilation targeting the besieged Gaza Strip to include areas in Lebanon through airstrikes and a ground invasion in the south on September 23, reports from the occupation army have consistently highlighted the deaths and injuries among its soldiers.

In the last 24 hours, the Israeli occupation army revealed on Tuesday that 11 soldiers had been injured. According to the statistics published on the occupation army’s website, the number of injured soldiers in Gaza, Lebanon, and the West Bank since the beginning of the war has reached 5,381, an increase from 5,370 reported on Monday.

Thus, 11 Israeli soldiers were injured in the last 24 hours alone. Among the injured, 21 are being treated for critical injuries, 218 for moderate injuries, and 17 sustained minor wounds.

Additionally, the same statistics show that 798 soldiers have been killed since the war began on October 7, 2023. Of these, 376 were killed in ground battles in the Gaza Strip that commenced on October 27. This figure does not include civilians, police officers, or members of the “Shin Bet” security agency who have been killed since the war began.

The Occupation Conceals the Numbers

Every time the Israeli occupation releases new figures about the deaths or injuries of its soldiers, social media platforms erupt with posts and tweets accusing it of “concealing a much higher death toll in Gaza and Lebanon” as part of a psychological warfare strategy to maintain Israeli morale.

Last week, the Israeli occupation army announced the deaths of six soldiers in battles in southern Lebanon. It released the names of five of these soldiers, while the name of the sixth soldier awaits approval for publication, according to a military statement from the occupation.

At that time, the Israeli army radio reported that 107 soldiers and officers from the Golani Brigade had been killed since October 7. It also mentioned that the evacuation of injured and dead soldiers was a complex process, with the army “needing time to understand the full scope of the incident.”

According to Hezbollah’s operational room, the cumulative losses of the occupation army since the start of its so-called “ground maneuver in southern Lebanon” include more than 100 dead and 1,000 injured soldiers and officers.

Hezbollah also reports the destruction of 43 Merkava tanks, eight military bulldozers, two Hummer vehicles, two armored personnel carriers, and two troop transport vehicles. Additionally, four Hermes 450 drones and two Hermes 900 drones were downed.

Investigative Findings: Concealing Losses

A special investigative report by the Palestinian Information Center, prepared by researcher Mohammed Abed, revealed that the Israeli occupation army intentionally conceals its losses during battles in the Gaza Strip. The reported figures for the soldiers killed during the war on Gaza, he argued, clearly indicate “statistical manipulation.”

The researcher noted: “Several gaps in the Israeli cover-up have been identified, most notably the number of injured announced by the Ministry of Health during the early weeks of the war. The reported daily injury rates far exceeded those announced in later weeks due to increased military censorship over official information.”

He continued: “Furthermore, the December 7 announcement regarding the number of Israeli soldiers who suffered blindness from war injuries provides another significant insight. Such data allow us to estimate the number of injured soldiers by comparing it with conventional war injury statistics.”

Has the Occupation Failed in Lebanon?

The Israeli occupation announced the launch of its ground military operation against Lebanon on October 1, including airstrikes, artillery shelling, and targeted assassinations.

However, until now, the occupation forces have failed to establish a presence in any village or town they have entered due to fierce resistance from Hezbollah fighters. This has led many observers on social media to describe the Israeli occupation’s efforts in Lebanon as a “failure.”

On October 5, the Israeli occupation army began a ground invasion in the northern Gaza Strip under the pretext of “preventing Hamas from regaining its strength in the area.”

As a result of the Israeli aggression in Lebanon, 3,516 people have been martyred, and 14,929 injured, most of whom are women and children. Additionally, approximately 1.4 million people have been displaced.

Every day, Hezbollah responds by launching rockets, drones, and artillery shells targeting military sites, intelligence headquarters, soldier gatherings, and settlements. While “Israel” announces some of its human and material losses, military censorship imposes strict secrecy on most of its casualties, according to observers.