Since cross-border attacks began in October 2023, the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has extended beyond weapons alone. Beyond the battlefield, both sides have engaged in a fierce psychological war, using videos, loudspeakers, rumors, and media as their arsenal.
Although these tactics may not cause physical harm, they are effective in instilling fear among civilians.
But what are the main objectives behind both sides’ psychological strategies? Are they empty threats, or could they actually spark more serious consequences?
With insights from analysts, Beirut Today explores the psychological warfare waged by Israel and Hezbollah.
Ten months of mental warfare
From threats of deploying “never-before-used” weaponry to promises of “turning Beirut into Gaza,” Israel has waged a psychological war against Lebanon for the past ten months, according to The New Arab.
Senior officials have escalated their rhetoric, with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir calling for the destruction of Hezbollah strongholds, declaring: “They’re burning us here. All Hezbollah strongholds should be burned and destroyed. War!”
Prior to the Gaza war in August, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned that conflict could “return Lebanon to the Stone Age.”
In addition to their rhetoric, Israeli fighter jets have frequently broken the sound barrier over Lebanon, mimicking the sound of loud explosions, causing panic among civilians.
Israeli forces have also deployed drones over southern Lebanon, broadcasting messages accusing Hezbollah of local destruction with the statement, “This is Hezbollah’s doing.”
Similarly, Hezbollah has released videos showing drone surveillance of Israeli assets, including the port of Haifa. They have shared “to whom it may concern” clips demonstrating their ability to penetrate Israel’s air defense system undetected.
Hezbollah chief Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah has declared that his fighters are prepared for an invasion and that militants from other countries are ready to join the fight against Israel.
These psychological warfare strategies, which are non-lethal tactics, use non-combat methods to instill fear and alter perceptions, according to The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy.
Reminder of an all-out war
David Wood from the Crisis Group in Beirut told in an interview with CNBC on June 21 that both Israel and Hezbollah are using psychological tactics to highlight the severe costs of an all-out war. For instance, Israel’s sonic bombs act as an ‘acoustic reminder’ of its capacity to cause significant damage, similar to the destruction in Gaza.
Nora Boustany, an instructor in Sociology, Anthropology, and Media Studies at the American University of Beirut (AUB), tells Beirut Today that Israel is clearly mobilizing its domestic constituency emotionally.
Boustany, an award-winning correspondent with experience covering Lebanon’s war, Desert Storm, and conflicts in Gaza and Algeria, notes that Israel is carefully selecting targets it deems to be at the forefront of militant threats. She adds that Israel’s objectives are two-fold:
“One is to raise the specter of former destructive and devastating Israeli invasions and attacks to drive home the horror and terror of what may come. The second aim is to whittle away at popular support among residents and civilians for Hezbollah.”
Bravado, resilience, and military advancements
According to Boustany, Hezbollah’s psychological strategy involves bravado, resilience, and showcasing its technological and military advancements.
Hezbollah chief Nasrallah has aimed to reassure the public and maintain a sense of normalcy despite the sonic booms from Israel by advising residents to “keep their windows open.”
Boustany explains that Hezbollah aims to keep the Israeli military on edge and the political leadership uncertain while using its arsenal and capabilities as a deterrent.
Another aspect of Hezbollah’s strategy is “to keep flexing its muscles and promoting itself as the main powerful proxy of Iran,” as Boustany adds. This involves leveraging military and financial support from Tehran.
Psychological intimidation of civilians
Since the 2006 Hezbollah-Israel war, Israel has frequently violated Lebanese airspace to intimidate civilians, with over 22,000 air violations recorded since the truce.
According to Lawrence Abu Hamdan, founder of Earshot, a nonprofit specializing in tracking state violence, the sound of fighter jets and other blast-like noises can re-traumatize populations that have survived previous explosions and wars.
Over time, recurring jet and blast sounds can even increase the risk of stroke. They can also deplete calcium deposits in the heart, Abu Hamdan said in an interview with Al Jazeera on August 10.
AUB Media Studies instructor Nora Boustany emphasizes that Israel’s psychological strategy aims to intimidate and undermine the morale and resilience of the Lebanese population.
She explains that by creating an atmosphere of fear, Israel hopes to wear down a population already suffering from economic troubles and political instability. The goal is for the Lebanese people to eventually welcome Israeli strikes and view the incursion as a necessary step to remove Hezbollah’s armed presence, which some perceive as a major source of tension.
“For two warring parties who have said for months they do not want war while actually taunting one another with it and preparing for it, this is a very schizophrenic and unnerving approach,” Boustany says.
It’s not just the Lebanese population enduring this escalating conflict. Boustany notes that since October 8, Israelis from the north have also been living in a state of limbo. Their nerves are frayed, and their families and lives are unsettled as they prepare and stock their shelters.
Settling into uncertainty
Amid escalating threats and stalled ceasefire talks over Gaza, Lebanese residents are closely following the news. Despite the constant stream of projections, analyses, and warnings about imminent wars, people feel no wiser, Boustany from AUB states. Instead, it seems everyone has become a military analyst.
For many Lebanese who either choose to stay in Lebanon or cannot emigrate, this situation has become the new normal. Life continues with weddings, religious celebrations, and concerts. For the cautious, events with large crowds are often canceled or postponed.
“It has always been this way for those determined to stay and enjoy life in Lebanon, no matter what,” Boustany observes.
For those still grappling with past traumas, sleeplessness and anxiety are daily challenges, often managed with self-administered or doctor-prescribed antidepressants.
From threats to action
Since 1975, Lebanon has been caught in a cycle of no peace, no war – a constant swing of hope, fear, and uncertainty, according to Boustany, instructor at AUB.
With diplomatic efforts faltering, it’s unclear if a full-scale military confrontation is imminent. As one parliamentarian put it this week, “we are already in a state of war.”
For Israelis still reeling from the October 7 Hamas attacks, the psychological toll may be especially severe. Boustany emphasizes that both Hezbollah and Israeli forces are in a high state of readiness, with tensions running extremely high.
David Wood from the Crisis Group told CNBC on June 21 that Nasrallah’s warning of an unlimited war and Israel’s claims of full preparedness cannot be dismissed as mere rhetoric or empty threats.
These statements come amid some of the most severe escalations between the parties since October, with both the battlefield and the rhetoric growing increasingly dangerous.