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Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said “rural areas” meant “most of southern Lebanon.” The scattering of cluster bombs, whether by artillery or the air force, would be “much reduced, significantly reduced,” he said.

Hezbollah is outgunned by the technologically superior Israeli forces, but in 2006 it proved adept at fighting covertly and hitting Israeli towns with rockets. Some 1,200 people were killed in Lebanon, mostly civilians, and 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers, died in the war.

ONE IN EVERY VILLAGE

If Israel carries out its veiled threats to attack Iran’s nuclear program, it could mean another war with Hezbollah.

Israel sees the Shiite militia as the long arm of its enemy Iran. Israeli television has reported that 10,000 Lebanese sites are now listed as potential targets — far more than Israel had on its list in 2006.

Suggesting the depth of Israeli intelligence penetration, the officer said there was “more than one Hezbollah cell” in each of some 240 Shiite villages in southern Lebanon. Some have guerrilla bunkers, launch pads and arms caches.

Israel hopes Lebanon can rein in Hezbollah, which acts like a state within a state. If not, the officer predicted a future war would be settled more quickly by Israel, whose forces were fought to a standstill in 2006.

Israel had relied initially on aerial bombing, shifting to a ground offensive only after days of withering guerrilla rocket attacks on its northern towns. Next time, the tanks and troops would go in “very early on,” the officer said.

Israel must also brace for attacks on Israelis abroad, he said. Iran and its Lebanese ally have been accused of several plots. Many may have been foiled, but on July 18 a bomb in Bulgaria killed 5 Israeli tourists. Iran denied any role. Hezbollah has not responded to the charges of involvement.

If a bomb attack killed many Israelis, would Israel see it as justification for launching a new Lebanon war?

“My personal opinion? Absolutely,” the officer said.