1)
Why did he send only army officers?
1.
Malbim: He did not need to send soldiers, for Aram's army was already there to help Basha. He sent only officers to command the soldiers to strike Basha.
2)
How long did Aram remain hostile to Yisrael?
1.
'Rashi' (from Seder Olam 16, Yalkut Shimoni Melachim I, 205): It was until the death of Achaz 1 . In the third year of Achaz, Melech Yisrael and Melech Aram made a Bris to attack Achaz. Achaz did not have merit that they fall to him; rather, both of them fell to Tiglas Pil'eser (Sancheriv).
1
I.e. they were hostile to Malchus Yisrael or Malchus Yehudah. (PF)
