Report: Israel Threatens to Expand Attacks in Lebanon as Washington Pressures to Disarm Hezbollah

SadaNews - Israel threatens to expand the scope of its attacks in Lebanon if the army does not act "effectively" to disarm Hezbollah, and this has been conveyed to the Lebanese government through Washington.

Israel has threatened to "intensify the range of attacks in Lebanon if the Lebanese army does not work effectively against Hezbollah, targeting areas that have so far refrained from being attacked at the request of the (U.S. President Donald) Trump administration."

According to Israeli Broadcasting Authority ("Kan 11"), Tel Aviv wanted to set a deadline for the Lebanese government, but is waiting for a decision from Washington, noting that Trump’s envoy to Lebanon, Morgan Ortagus, is scheduled to visit Israel and then Beirut during the upcoming week.

On Thursday, a session was held for leaders of Israeli security agencies regarding Lebanon, during which the visit of Pope Francis to Beirut tomorrow was discussed, and they coordinated military operations to avoid affecting the visit, which is receiving extensive media coverage worldwide.

The Israeli threat and American pressure on Lebanon comes in response to the conduct of the Lebanese army and unprecedented documentation showing it bringing journalists into Hezbollah tunnels in the south to showcase its efforts against Hezbollah.

"Kan 11" quoted an informed source as saying that "the equipped tunnel that the Lebanese army showed to local journalists was discovered in recent months, and it is estimated to have been uncovered at the beginning of the implementation of the plan to disarm Hezbollah in southern Lebanon that was approved in September."

The Lebanese army has avoided in recent months showcasing such results to the public due to internal sensitivity, and this exceptional media move comes to reduce pressures in the international arena and from the United States; according to "Kan 11."

It pointed out that the timing is not a coincidence; alongside the external threats, Beirut has only a few weeks left before the deadline set by the Lebanese government for disarmament south of the Litani River.

Israeli Channel 13 reported on Saturday evening that the army presented a plan to the political level to intensify its attacks on Lebanon against Hezbollah, during a special session held with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and attended by several high-ranking ministers.

Israeli security estimates suggest that Hezbollah will not respond soon to the assassination of its chief of staff, Haitham Al-Tabtabai, in the southern suburbs of Beirut at the beginning of the week.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naeem Qassem threatened in a speech on Friday evening to respond to the assassination of Al-Tabtabai, stating, "What happened is a blatant assault and a described crime, and we have the right to respond, and we will determine the appropriate timing for that."