Jerusalem – Israel has reportedly finalized plans for a large-scale military operation in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah, raising the stakes in a region already on high alert. The potential offensive, first reported by Israeli media Thursday, is predicated on the Lebanese government’s failure to disarm the militant group by year’s end, a demand reflecting Israel’s escalating frustration with Hezbollah’s presence on its northern border [[2]]. As diplomatic efforts continue, including ongoing U.S. mediation, the threat of renewed conflict looms large, with upcoming discussions between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump possibly influencing the course of action.
آليات الاحتلال الإسرائيلي قرب حدود لبنان، 26 نوفمبر 2024 (Getty)
Israel has developed detailed plans for a large-scale military operation against Hezbollah in Lebanon, according to reports from Israeli media on Thursday, November 28, 2024. The potential offensive is contingent on the Lebanese government and army failing to disarm Hezbollah by the end of 2025.
Several Israeli military branches participated in formulating the plan, and the Israeli Air Force has conducted extensive training exercises in preparation for a possible escalation of conflict on the northern border, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported. The escalating tensions underscore the fragile security situation in the region.
Israeli officials have informed the U.S. administration that they “will take military action if a disarmament operation is not carried out within Lebanon within the specified timeframe,” according to the report. Washington relayed this warning to the Lebanese government, which acknowledged the task is complex and would require more time than proposed. Sources familiar with the matter indicated the United States has warned Lebanon it “may not be able to prevent a potential Israeli military operation if Beirut does not take concrete and swift steps to disarm Hezbollah,” signaling growing international pressure on Lebanon.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to convene the weekly meeting of the small security cabinet in Jerusalem on Thursday evening to discuss several key issues, including developments related to Hamas, Hezbollah, a potential ceasefire agreement, and Iran’s nuclear program, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported.
Meanwhile, the newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that an upcoming meeting between Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump will be “crucial” in determining whether Israel will receive U.S. approval to launch an attack on Lebanon. The newspaper suggests the political outcomes of that meeting will directly impact the Israeli security establishment’s decision-making process regarding a potential war.
These developments come as Israel’s military recently concluded a five-day naval exercise in cooperation with the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet. The maneuvers, which took place in areas including the Mediterranean Sea, the Gulf of Haifa, the Nahariya region, and the Red Sea, were designed to “enhance the level of coordination between the sides and expand the ability to respond jointly to complex threat scenarios in the maritime environment, as well as exchange operational experience and develop new tools and technologies that support the operations of the Israeli army at sea,” according to an Israeli military statement. The joint exercise highlights the deepening military cooperation between the two countries.
