This is John Batcheler.

Conversation with David Dayoud of the Foundation for the Defense of democracies

about the phases of the IDF war on Hezbollah.

The phases, David discerns them very carefully. on Hezbollah, the phases.

David discerns them very carefully, and what is the aim?

Where is it going?

The border incursion, the bombing in South Beirut, the bombing in Central Beirut, the search for

financial affairs for Hezbollah, where is it going? David Dayoud, much more of this

later tonight.

I think right now we're seeing there is the continuation of the limited incursion along the border,

coupled with airstrikes.

Again, what we've seen from the Israelis over the past year, or year and two weeks, if my math is serving me correctly, is a gradual ratcheting of pressure up against Hezbollah.

This is the strategy announced by the idea of Chief of Stafford C. Alevy in January

that Israel would continue ratcheting a pressure against Hezbollah to achieve its goals of quiet in the north of actual being able to return of citizens in safety to the north.

Otherwise we will come to work.

Now, the mutual attrition that existed up until September 16th that phase is over. Now we've moved into what I would call proactive attrition.

The Israelis are putting the weight of the pain of the attrition campaign heavily upon Hezbollah.

If that suffices for Hezbollah to withdraw north of the Latani,

then I think the Israelis will be content, but it seems like Hezbollah is not going to go out without a fight.

So it may require Israel to push deeper into Lebanon, even though that plan, that may not be a plan that's there from the outset,

that may not be the Israeli objective at the moment,

it may be something the Israelis come to if Hezbollah doesn't back down.

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