IDF is currently investigating how soldiers once again disobeyed orders by bringing mobile phones into Lebanese territory. Over the past day, the 36th Division has been trying to understand why, like in previous operations in Gaza, officers and troops ignored the pre-operation briefings for the ground mission in southern Lebanon. They brought their mobile phones, took photos of the operational area within enemy territory, and even shared these images online.
This relates to the recent ground operation in the village of Maroun al-Ras, where the Golani Brigade was active. The IDF has warned for years that Hezbollah possesses the capability to locate mobile phones, potentially exposing the exact positions of forces. This capability could facilitate mortar and rocket attacks or allow terrorists to be dispatched for direct assaults.
This technological capability is considered state-level, implying the Shiite terror group's army likely received it from Iran, akin to its other sophisticated weaponry. Consequently, it was crucial to adhere to the directive of leaving mobile phones within Israeli territory, at a relatively safe distance from the border, to ensure the operation's success and the soldiers' safety.
This time even officers, including battalion and company commanders, followed this directive and refrained from bringing mobile phones into Lebanese territory to avoid real threats to themselves and their subordinates. Operational communication among forces was maintained using radios and secure, encrypted technologies.
Munitions factory bombed in Beirut
(Video: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
"It's a complete mess, but it's not surprising, given the IDF has only issued verbal warnings to many soldiers who brought phones, took photos and posted images and videos from operations in the Gaza Strip," an IDF source said about the soldiers' conduct and the response to it.
"The officers are becoming complacent, opting for lax discipline and fearing to severely punish soldiers who disregard orders and operational discipline – no wonder this behavior persists in a place far more dangerous than Gaza."
About a week ago, Golani fighters arrived in Maroun al-Ras, a location that became a symbol during the Second Lebanon War, even in Israel. The IDF achieved relatively swift operational control in the village, allowing for convenient movement in the hostile village at the ridge's peak, extending to the nearby town of Bint Jbeil. Some commanders can move back and forth to Israeli territory due to the proximity — only about two kilometers away by air.