Concerns are mounting about a potential upcoming Israeli escalation, amid warnings from experts indicating that military and political developments could have dire repercussions for Lebanon.
In this context, retired Brigadier General George Nader explains, in a statement to , that “When Israel announces a military targeting that cooperates with Hezbollah, this in itself constitutes a clear escalation, and an attempt to entrench a new indicator in the relationship between the Lebanese state and the party, as if the state has become identical with the party or covers its movements.”
Nader points out that “Israel does not distinguish between the state and Hezbollah, but deals with them as one body, and considers any site or party a legitimate target whenever it sees a military interest in it, without any hesitation. The announcement of this policy is clear, and it is proceeding with it publicly.”
He adds: “Today, we are facing a difficult reality, whether we accept it or not. This is just a reading of the facts. The stage is delicate, and the field and political developments indicate an existing escalation. Frankly, what we expect is that we are heading towards a critical and dangerous stage, and there are two dates that determine the next stage: the date of presenting what the Lebanese army has accomplished in southern Litani to the Council of Ministers, and the date of the Trump-Netanyahu meeting to find out what awaits us.”
Nader expects the worst, stating that “Israel behaves as it wants, and is not ready to make any real concessions, and this is exactly what we feared. The Israeli solution is a disaster, not a solution, as it is based on imposing facts on the ground, especially in southern Lebanon, including displacing the people and preventing their return, and creating a buffer zone, which is something Lebanon cannot bear.”
Nader continues: “Therefore, we hope that the Lebanese state will convince Hezbollah that its regional role has ended, that the previous pretexts no longer exist, and that handing over weapons is the only way out, as the current indicators indicate that the greatest probability is heading towards further escalation, and perhaps a wider confrontation after Eid.”
