In a blunt interview with Moshe Mans, Mako military correspondent Shay Levy says the IDF is misleading the public and political leaders about the war in Lebanon. He argues that striking small underground sites, outposts, or other tactical targets in southern Lebanon is being packaged as an “strategic asset” or a major breakthrough, when in reality Hezbollah’s real center of gravity remains far deeper in Lebanon, in places such as the Bekaa Valley, where Israel is not operating.
Levy says the repeated dramatic language creates a false impression that the army is close to defeating Hezbollah. “I am not belittling these infrastructures,” he says, but adds that such terror assets exist “from the border with Israel to Beirut, and probably even after.” In his view, if Israel truly wanted to dismantle Hezbollah, it would need to push across all of Lebanon and clear it house by house, something he says the country is not prepared to do.
He also warns that the current campaign is drifting back into the same “Lebanese mud” Israel has known before. He recalls the earlier sense of momentum after the pager operation, the killing of Hassan Nasrallah, and the elimination of much of Hezbollah’s senior command, but says that advance has stalled. He contrasts the earlier ceasefire period, when Israel could strike freely in southern Lebanon and the Dahieh and Hezbollah did not fire, with the present situation, in which American pressure limits IDF movement on the ground while Hezbollah continues to kill soldiers, disrupt daily life, and launch drones and rockets at northern communities.
Levy draws a direct line to October 7, saying the army still does not tell the truth to residents, including in Gaza-area incidents near the “yellow line.” He says officials use calming phrases such as “routine fire” or “controlled explosions,” keep standby security teams uninformed to avoid “causing panic,” and create a dangerous illusion of calm. He also describes what he calls a campaign to sideline critical reporters through delayed requests, preferential access for compliant journalists, and censorship of materials. Despite that, he says he recently toured Khan Younis and saw major improvements there, and repeats his warning: “Do not fall asleep.”
