Assessing the Israeli-Hezbollah War
For a more considered take on the Israeli-Hezbollah War then you will receive in the mass media, consider the document produced by Anthony Cordesman for the Center for Strategic and international Studies. He has good contacts, it appears, within the Israeli military. Some highlights
It was never clear from discussions with Israeli officials exactly what the real original battle plan was. (p. 14)
One key point that should be mentioned more in passing than as a lesson, although it may be a warning about conspiracy theories, is that no serving Israeli official, intelligence officer, or other military officer felt that the Hezbollah acted under the direction of Iran or Syria. (p.15) [He argues they each used each other.]
… Iranian 747s routinely offloaded arms in Syrian airports … (p.15) [for shipment to Hezbollah]
Israeli intelligence officials also stated that they knew some 100 Iranian advisors were working with the Hezbollah (p.16)
He makes an interesting point about stealth technology applying to low signature weapons like the small rockets Hezbollah used not just to high technology platforms. He indicates he was shown video of rocket launches coming from houses where the entire time Hezbollah was in the house was no more than a minute. (p.19)
He also observes that while there was an agreed massive buildup of Hezbollah by Iran and Syria this cost the two nations perhaps no more than $100 – 150 million – something they can easily afford and easily afford to do again. (p. 20)