🚨 Nobody expected Hezbollah to defeat Israel in the 2006 Lebanon war
But that's exactly what happened.
Here's how it was: 🧵
THE "SPIDER WEB" SNAPS
Late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah called Israel a "spider web"—seemingly strong — but easily torn.
In just 34 days 19 years ago, Hezbollah shattered IDF’s aura of invincibility. Here’s how ⤵️
2/12
ISRAEL’S PRE-PLANNED WAR ‼️
Israel’s PM Ehud Olmert had plotted invasion MONTHS before Hezbollah’s border raid (Jul 12).
Winograd Commission exposed: Israel sought war, then bungled it completely.
3/12
TANK GRAVEYARD
On Day 1, 🇮🇱Merkava tank hit a mine 70m into Lebanon, killing 4 crew. $4M hardware turned into a coffin.
Hezbollah held the wreckage hostage for days as Defense Minister Peretz watched live💀
4/12
'LOOK AT IT BURN' 💥
Israel thought they killed Nasrallah in a strike on his office & residence on Jul 14 — instead they got their warship up in flames.
3 days into the war, he emerged live, announcing 🇮🇱Saar 5 was hit offshore Beirut.
“You want open war? You’ll get it.“
5/12
🪖 BATTLE OF AYTA ASH-SHA'B
For 18 grueling days of Jul-Aug 2006, 60-100 local fighters (mostly villagers) with AKs & RPGs vs. 5 IDF brigades were fighting Israel's 'elite' soldiers.
Controlling this village meant disrupting Hezbollah's rocket launches.
Yet, IDF had to retreat in panic.
6/12
GUERRILLA GENIUS 🔥
Hezbollah fighters used tunnels, bunkers, sniper nests, and dense networks of anti-tank missiles (ATGMs) hidden in homes & orchards to blast tanks at point-blank.
They let IDF "capture" empty ruins (decoys), trapping them in kill zones.
7/12
📍MAROUN AL-RAS: WHERE THE MYTH DIED (July 19-29)
Israelis expected a "tent and three Kalashnikovs."
Instead, into a "Nature Reserve"—Hezbollah’s kill zone with bunkers, CCTV, and anti-tank missiles.
8/12
NATURE RESERVES
IDF slang for Hezbollah’s hidden rural bases camouflaged as eco sites w/ hydraulic tunnel doors.
Hezbollah stocked Saggers/Katyushas there.
Israel's Northern Command had to ban attacks on Nature Reserves, fearing they’d “swallow whole battalions.” 💀
9/12
CIVILIAN TARGETS 🔺
Instead of Hezbollah fighters, Israelis wreaked havoc on Lebanese civil infrastructure.
15,000 homes destroyed. 1,100+ civilians killed.
10/12
ROCKET REALITY CHECK 💥💥
Hezbollah fired ~4,000 rockets INTO Israel while IDF bombed Lebanon.
Iron Dome didn’t exist. Civilians in Haifa, Nahariya hid in shelters.
11/12
CEASEFIRE = ISRAEL’S SURRENDER
IDF fled under UN truce after 33 days, having achieved NOTHING:
❌ Free captured soldiers (bodies returned in *2008* swap)
❌ Destroy Hezbollah
❌ Stop rockets
Hezbollah declared victory.
12/12
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From supply chain problems to insane battlefield tactics, the 'world's leading superpower' struggles to understand the 21st century's most critical military technology.
Let's break it down🧵
2/7 DRONE DOMINATION PLAN
Defense Sec. Hegseth wants 100% US-sourced drones.
But he misses the fact that most parts (motors, cameras, electronics) come from 🇨🇳CHINA.
3/7 CHINA FACTOR
Companies like DJI, EHang, and Autel Robotics dominate the drone market.
Even US-based distributors rely on Chinese-made components.
🚨PALLADIUM: THE STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF ONE OF RUSSIA’S RAREST EXPORTS
The idea of taking action against Russian palladium exports has recently been broached in the US Congress.
So what makes palladium so important?
🧵
ELECTRONICS AND INDUSTRY
Palladium is widely used in electronics and in the automotive industry. Due to its properties, palladium is used in electroplating, as well as in the manufacturing of military and aerospace equipment.
2/6
COMMODITY MARKET
Palladium bullion is traded as a commodity and even has its own ISO currency code, just like gold, silver and platinum.
🚨HANDFUL OF PATRIOTS WON’T CHALLENGE RUSSIA’S AIR SUPERIORITY IN UKRAINE: SCOTT RITTER
Trump’s commitment of “up to 17” Patriot batteries for Ukraine is a “political gesture” that won’t affect the outcome of the conflict, the former US Marine Corps intel officer says.
🧵
EXPECTATION VS REALITY
If the US could somehow simultaneously deliver all 17 of the promised Patriots, it “could complicate” Russia’s campaign, Ritter says.
But that’s not what’s going to happen, with Russia likely to destroy the systems before they’re installed, he predicts.
(2/5)
POLITICAL THEATER
Trump’s Patriot promise is a “political gesture,” made out of his “embarrassment” over being unable to pressure Putin into bending the knee to American demands on Ukraine.
🚨Dear Americans, we see that you’re planning to send another weapons package to Ukraine.
💀Friendly reminder that your previous weapons packages were turned into SCRAP METAL by Russian forces.
Let’s refresh your memory 🧵
🔥US sent 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, up to 27 of which have been destroyed or captured by Russian troops.
Cost of Abrams tank: over $10 million per unit when training and maintenance included.
2/7
💥US sent over 400 Stryker vehicles to Ukraine, many of which were used for suicide charges across Russian minefields or as target practice for Russian drones.