Israel Withdraws from Benny Hayyan; 253 Breaches Since Truce
In a significant development, Israeli troops began withdrawing from Benny Hayyan town in the south, marking the first such withdrawal since the start of the conflict. The Israeli army had launched a large-scale operation in the town on Wednesday, with tanks entering the town and heavy shelling on residential buildings causing property damage.
Israeli forces had earlier been unable to penetrate Benny Hayyan during the war, making their entrance and subsequent withdrawal a crucial development. The operation involved Merkava tanks, Namir armored personnel carriers, and bulldozers.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces continue to target civilian areas. For the third consecutive day, Israeli bulldozers are demolishing homes in the inner neighborhoods of Naqura. Heavy Israeli military activity and reconnaissance missions were also reported at the western entrance of Naqura, close to the UNIFIL headquarters. In response, the French units of UNIFIL conducted extensive patrols in the residential areas of Deir Siar and Taybe, and surveyed the valleys along the Litani River under low-flying reconnaissance missions.
It is reported that as of yesterday, there have been 253 Israeli breaches of the ceasefire since it took effect on November 27, with 5 occurring on Wednesday. Israeli forces are continuing to demolish what remains of homes in many southern towns and villages.
Israeli Army Faces Personnel Crisis
Contrary to the military actions, Israel’s army is facing manpower crisis. Israeli media reports suggest that hundreds of officers are leaving the army during the peak of the war. According to "Yedioth Ahronoth", long-term fighting is eroding military discipline, making it difficult to enforce military standards. "Israel Hayom" reported that around 500 officers resigned from the army in the second half of this year, a phenomenon that the army leadership considered surprising. The outlet predicts that the trend will continue even after the ceasefire with Lebanon.
Adding to the personnel crisis, "Channel 12" reported that the Israeli army is facing a severe shortage of thousands of combatants due to the ongoing war.
The situation remains fluid, and updates are expected as the developments unfold.
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