Eisin stressed the importance of concluding the operation swiftly. “Right now, the people of Lebanon still blame Hezbollah, but there is going to be a tipping point when we accidentally kill a lot of civilians,” she said, referencing artillery shelling during a 1996 operation in southern Lebanon that caused 106 fatalities among civilians sheltering at a UN compound. A UN commission said it was a deliberate strike, while Israel disputed that finding.
When that happens, we lose all the capability to say we’re acting against Hezbollah and the Lebanese government will lose its credibility,” Eisin said.
For now, that does not seem to be an Israeli concern. During the first week of fighting, the Khardali bridge across the Litani River in the south was destroyed by the IAF. The act not only prevented Hezbollah from using the crossing but also served as a warning to the Lebanese government.
Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz said following the strike that there would be ”escalating costs in harm to infrastructure and loss of territory,” unless the Lebanese army fulfills commitments to disarm Hezbollah.
When your leaders aren't worried about blowback to violence, remember, the point of the violence IS to create that blowback.