Israel plans to buy five more F-15I Strike Eagle interdiction bombers from the US to replace aircraft lost in accidents. The Israelis want to keep the F-15I squadron up to its full strength of 25 planes. --Stephen V Cole

December 31; Israel estimates that a withdrawal from Lebanon would cost it $100 million, the money being spent to turn the northern part of Israel into an armed camp. New fences, sensors, and bases would be built, and existing towns would be provided with concrete walls, bomb shelters, and surveillance towers. There is much concern that Hezbollah, rather than ending its campaign, will simply move its rocket launchers further south and begin bombarding Israel in earnest. This will require various sensors to detect incoming rockets; a new laser defense system may be used to deal with them. --Stephen V Cole

December 30; A Hezbollah suicide bomber detonated a truckload of explosives in front of an Israeli convoy in southern Lebanon. Seven Israelis were injured and one civilian killed, or maybe it was the other way around. There was no immediate official announcement of the actual losses.

December 28; Israel made air and artillery attacks on suspected Hezbollah  positions in southern Lebanon after Hezbollah guerillas attacked Israeli positions in south Lebanon.