Tel Aviv, Israel – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Thursday that the efforts undertaken by the Lebanese government and army to disarm Hezbollah are “far from sufficient.” He also hinted at a direct Israeli military intervention to enforce the terms of the ceasefire agreement.
“An encouraging start… but”
In a statement issued by his office, Netanyahu emphasized that the US-brokered ceasefire agreement clearly stipulates the complete disarmament of Hezbollah. The statement added, “The efforts of the Lebanese government and armed forces are an encouraging start. However, they are insufficient, and we have observed ongoing attempts by Hezbollah to rearm and rebuild its infrastructure with Iranian support.”
American “green light”
These statements come amid media reports indicating an imminent escalation. The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation (Kan) reported that Netanyahu informed his ministers he had received a “green light” from the US administration to launch a military operation in Lebanon if the disarmament of Hezbollah continues. Kan quoted a senior security source as saying, “The United States has confirmed that if Hezbollah does not actually disarm, Israel will do it itself, even if it leads to a round of fighting lasting several days.”
broad attack plan
According to leaks, the Israeli army has already drawn up a plan for a large-scale attack targeting vital Hezbollah sites. This is seen as an alternative to Beirut’s “failure” to implement the agreement signed in November 2014. These developments put the ceasefire agreement at risk, amid international concerns that the region could slide back into a full-blown confrontation that would transcend the current rules of engagement.
