Episode 2 of Enemies at War Now Streaming with English Subtitles

“Hezbollah is not just Israel’s greatest threat—it’s Iran’s crown jewel.”

In the latest episode of Kan 11’s explosive investigative series Enemies at War, now available on Yavin.org with English subtitles, viewers are taken deep into the mind of Hassan Nasrallah, the elusive and highly charismatic leader of Hezbollah. Through an eye-opening interview with Oded Ilam, former head of Mossad’s Counterterrorism Division, journalist Roi Kais explores the geopolitical, religious, and psychological layers of Hezbollah’s strategy—especially in the wake of October 7.

👉 Watch Episode 2 now
⏱ Runtime: ~30 minutes | 🎙️ Language: Hebrew | 🌍 Subtitled in English

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🧠 What Is Nasrallah Thinking? A Strategy of Delay, Not Deterrence

While Israeli forces were fully engaged in Gaza, many feared that Hezbollah, stationed heavily along the northern border, would open a second front. Yet, Nasrallah held back. Why?

According to Mossad veterans, Nasrallah may have been surprised by Hamas’s success on October 7, just as Iran was. Though emboldened ideologically, he was not prepared militarily. More critically, Tehran never gave the green light for an all-out war, and Nasrallah follows Iran’s lead—though he retains some operational autonomy.

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💥 The Missed Momentum of October 7

Nasrallah’s decision not to enter the war on October 7 was, as Ilam puts it, “a missed opportunity” to crush Israel in a two-front assault. Why didn’t he act?

• Hezbollah wasn’t ready for a full territorial conflict.
• Iran hadn’t authorized full engagement.
• Lebanon’s internal collapse, economic despair, and post-Beirut explosion fallout limited Hezbollah’s bandwidth.

And yet, Hezbollah managed to displace nearly 90,000 Israelis, creating historic internal disruption at a relatively low cost—proof that Nasrallah’s “attritional” strategy is working.

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🎭 Nasrallah: Charisma, Control, and Calculated Warfare

Nasrallah isn’t just a warlord—he’s a symbol. Unlike most Hezbollah commanders, he is:

• A religious and ideological leader
• A master communicator who consults with body language experts and media advisors
• A deeply strategic thinker with immense public support in Lebanon’s Shiite community

His speeches, charisma, and ability to mobilize both sentiment and terror make him more dangerous than any likely successor.

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🧬 When Intelligence Becomes Personal

The episode also reveals a haunting secret: Israeli intelligence once retrieved the body of Nasrallah’s son, Hadi, allowing them to extract his DNA before returning the body in a prisoner exchange. According to Ilam, this deeply violated Nasrallah’s sense of security and may still psychologically haunt him.

Even today, Nasrallah does not live in a bunker, as legend suggests—but he changes residences often, driven by paranoia and a deep understanding of Israel’s intelligence reach.

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⚖️ To Kill or Not to Kill: The Nasrallah Dilemma

Should Israel assassinate Nasrallah?

Mossad insiders argue the decision is not simple:

• Removing him may create chaos—but may also weaken Hezbollah permanently.
• His potential successors lack his ideological appeal and charismatic influence.
• But some may be “worse” operationally—more violent, less restrained.

As Ilam notes: “Sometimes eliminating one man can unleash a dozen worse ones.”

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🌍 Hezbollah: Iran’s Frontline Aircraft Carrier

The episode reminds us that Hezbollah is not just a Lebanese militia—it’s an Iranian outpost, strategically positioned to apply pressure on Israel while advancing Iranian revolutionary goals. And unlike Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah is Shiite, representing a different sectarian axis—one that does not rush to defend the Sunni population of Gaza, despite shared anti-Israel interests.

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🧭 What Comes Next? Nasrallah’s Next Move

Despite growing pressure from inside Lebanon and his own supporters, Nasrallah remains in a state of strategic hesitation. Why?

• Fear of overwhelming Israeli retaliation
• Economic collapse in Lebanon
• Loss of majority in Parliament
• The memory of Israel’s 2006 operation that wiped out 75% of his long-range missiles in 34 minutes

And perhaps most of all: Nasrallah respects Israeli power far more than we think.

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🎥 Watch Now on Yavin.org

This episode of Enemies at War is a must-watch for anyone trying to understand the delicate—and dangerous—balance in the north. As always, Yavin delivers Israeli public broadcasting with English accessibility, making vital political content available to the global community.

👉 Watch Episode 2: “When the Order from Iran Didn’t Arrive: What Is Nasrallah Planning?”

📰 Stay tuned for more content drops, expert analysis, and upcoming educator discussion guides.