The Lebanese-Israeli border is witnessing an escalation in bombing operations between the two parties (French)
Israeli Channel 13 said that Chief of Staff Herzi Halevy had instructed to prepare plans for a possible ground operation in Lebanon and to draw lessons from the Gaza war.
The channel added that Halevy assigned the preparer of plans for the ground operation in the Gaza Strip, General Chico Tamir, to plan a new ground operation in Lebanon.
In the same context, the Lebanese Al-Akhbar newspaper, which is close to Hezbollah, reported that Israel informed European countries that it had set a deadline of March 15 to reach a political settlement with Lebanon, otherwise it would be prepared to escalate military operations into a full-scale war.
The Lebanese-Israeli border has witnessed mutual bombardment since the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.
The newspaper quoted Western diplomatic sources - which it did not name - that Israel's talk about the deadline increased the concern of Western countries, which believe that every effort should be made to support the continuing efforts of the United States and France to implement Resolution 1701, and initiate a border settlement that provides security in the long term and guarantees the return of the displaced. Both sides of the border.
According to the same sources, the political path is not sufficient for reassurance, despite the American side’s insistence on drafting the initials of the agreement between Beirut and Tel Aviv.
However, these sources warned that any discussion regarding political arrangements in Lebanon and a ceasefire will not be translatable as long as the aggression against the Gaza Strip continues.
The US presidential envoy for energy affairs, Amos Hochstein, said during his visit to Beirut a few days ago that any truce agreed upon in Gaza does not have to extend to Lebanon automatically.
In the wake of a devastating Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, since October 8, 2023, the Lebanese-Israeli border has witnessed an exchange of fire between Hezbollah and Palestinian factions on the one hand and the Israeli occupation army on the other, which led to deaths and injuries on both sides of the border.
Recently, threats have escalated from Israeli officials to expand attacks on Lebanese territory unless Hezbollah fighters withdraw to the south of the Litani River.
Source: Al Jazeera + agencies