WORLD> Middle East
Ground operation meant to restore Israel's iron image
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-01-06 07:41

JERUSALEM: Israel's use of ground troops in its offensive against Hamas in Gaza is aimed at restoring the iron image of the Jewish state's military ability, undermined by its 2006 war with Hezbollah, say regional specialists.

"We are on the way to restoring our deterrence in a message which is also addressed to Hezbollah so it thinks twice if it is tempted to get involved in a second round (against Israel)," said a senior Israeli military officer, on condition of not being named.

Retired general Shlomo Brom, former head of strategic planning at Israel's staff headquarters, said: "The best way to halt aggression by groups such as Hamas or Hezbollah is not to go hunting rockets one by one, because that is impossible. You need to create a new deterrent balance."

The land campaign has more impact on the adversary than the air raids, which began on December 27, killing more than 400 people ahead of Saturday's invasion, say experts in strategic matters.

Ground troops hinder the movement of members of the Hamas armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, commented Jean-Francois Daguzan, research specialist at the Foundation for Strategic Research in Paris.

But he added: "The ground operations will be extremely cautious, drawing on the lessons from Hezbollah. The Israelis have no desire to go and get themselves into a mess in Gaza, even if Hamas is not Hezbollah."

Without the decision to send ground troops into battle "Hamas would have been able to announce that 'the Israelis are afraid of us'," he added. "This factor had to be taken into account."