Hezbollah on Nov. 6 launched rockets at targets in central Israel, including Ben Gurion Airport. One rocket landed on the airport grounds but caused no injuries. Middle East expert Dr. Eddy Cohen thinks that attack on Ben Gurion should be answered with an Israeli attack on Beirut’s Rafic Hariri airport, to make clear to Hezbollah that it will suffer severe consequences from launching such attacks on Israel’s critical infrastructure.
More on Eddy Cohen’s argument can be found here “Israel should target Beirut’s airport, in retaliation for hit near Ben-Gurion Airport – expert,” by Shaked Sadeh, Jerusalem Post, November 6, 2024:
Israel should take a firm approach toward Lebanon and respond to the hit near Ben-Gurion Airport by targeting Beirut’s airport, Dr. Eddy Cohen, an expert on Middle Eastern affairs, said on Wednesday in conversation with Maariv.
“Israel must shut down the Beirut airport – we have full legitimacy to do so now,” he said, adding, “International airlines see the threat to the area of Ben-Gurion Airport, and it deters them, so we need to respond quickly.
“Hezbollah may continue trying to target the airport, and if we don’t respond, it could disrupt its regular operations. If we strike Beirut and shut down the airport, they [Hezbollah] will be deterred,” he noted.
Cohen emphasized that such an action would clarify to Hezbollah the cost of its attacks and lead to international pressure on Lebanon.
Cohen noted that Donald Trump’s victory in the US elections may grant Israel greater freedom of action in the Middle East, particularly against the Iranian threat.
Cohen is convinced that Trump’s victory will mean a much firmer American approach to Iran, and hence, too, to Iran’s proxies Hamas and Hezbollah. He believes that Israel will be given free rein by Trump, who in his first term ended the Iran deal and reimposed stiff economic sanctions on the Islamic Republic, to deal forcefully with Iran. This surely includes the possibility of an Israeli preemptive strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. After all, the Supreme Leader has promised that Iran will give a “crushing response” to the Israeli attack on October 25 on its air defense systems, including the four S-300 missile batteries that protect Tehran, and its ballistic missile plants. And there is now a huge billboard in Tehran that depicts “Teloshima” — a portmanteau word combining Tel Aviv and Hiroshima — a clear warning that if Iran manages to produce a nuclear weapon, it will be used against the Jewish state.
Israel has to respond in kind, Cohen argues, to Hezbollah’s attack on Ben Gurion Airport. That is, IAF airstrikes should now be used to close the Beirut Airport. This will severely disrupt both the Lebanese economy, and Iranian efforts to resupply Hezbollah with weapons by air. It will make clear to the Lebanese what Hezbollah’s presence and attacks on Israel costs their country. There will be outrage at the UN over such an attack, though the UN has had nothing to say about the Hezbollah attack on Ben Gurion Airport. But Trump, though he won’t take office until January, will by his refusal to condemn Israel’s attack on the Beirut Airport signal a new policy, far more understanding of Israel’s need to make Hezbollah pay heavily for its attacks on Israel’s infrastructure. His response might go something like this: “So Hezbollah tried to close down Ben Gurion Airport, but failed, and Israel tried, and succeeded, in closing down Rafic Hariri. Sounds to me like Hezbollah was asking for it. No, I won’t condemn Israel for its attack on the Beirut Airport. I think it’s just what was needed.”
James Hoagland says
Israel will decide how to respond. But remember that Lebanon is not all shiite muslim. It was founded as a Christian country. Be aware of the other ethnicities in Lebanon and also in Iran. To be clear about the struggles taking place one must be clear about the fundamental religious and social make up of the countries involved.
Bexarkat says
I am not sure that’s entirely correct, but I may be in error. I think the government of Lebanon was created to ensure a balance of power. For example, if the President is Christian, the prime minister must be Muslim and vice versa.
gravenimage says
Hizb’allah has been taking over Lebanon for some time–there is, sadly, litte organized resistance.
shosh1 says
President Trump is being blessed because he is blessing Israel which translates into blessing for the U.S.
Genesis 12:3
rick says
Israel should make an outreach to the entire Lebanese community – Christian, Sunni and Shia and demand to know by a respond by the Lebanese Government if they support Hezbollah’s attack on Ben Gurion Airport. If there is no response that is a “Yes” as silence is a confirmation. If they answer “Yes” then there will be no mystery as to where the Lebanese stand. If they however respond with a “No” in opposition to the Hezbollah attack then Israel should send a simple warning “if there is a second attack on Ben Gurion then Israel will shut down Rafic Hariri International Airport in a way it will not be able to open for some time. If the first two responses are “Yes” then there is no need to send a message but just close down the Lebanese airport. There was no real damage in the first attack but any second attack or affirmation that a second attack is welcomed by the Lebanese then Israel has to do what is necessary.
SC says
Israel should make it clear they intend to bomb the Beirut Airport but give no details. The International community will stop flying there.rather than risk their planes.
Taffy says
Brilliant!
Israel needs to lay waste to ALL Hizb’allah infested areas in Lebanon and block Hizb’Allah’s infiltration into other sections..
Troybeam says
And they need not broad cast their intentions, just do it.
James Lincoln says
SC,
Yes, an idea that has merit.
Airplanes would continue to fly in and out of Beirut, but the pilots would not stay on the tarmac for very long (minutes not hours).
And no airplanes would be “parked” there.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
I’m not sure that Hizbullah will care whether or not Beirut Airport is shut down. Instead, Israel should invade and reoccupy Southern Lebanon, do a major cleanup operation and then leave a friendly militia in charge. Also purge that area of muslims – shi’a or sunni
Bexarkat says
I am of the opinion that Lebanon should grow a pair and force Hezbollah into submission to their present aggression. One problem is that Hezbollah is recognized by the government of Lebanon as a political party and doesn’t wish to create a internecine war between the Lebanonese army and the Hezbollah terrorists. i think there are a great many Hezbollah sympathyzers in the Lebanese government as well as the army.
gravenimage says
Sadly true.