The Broadcasting Corporation reported that the United States is making intensive efforts to contain the current tension, but officials in Tel Aviv confirm that “escalation seems inevitable.” In this regard, “Kan” stated that the US Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, will visit Israel next week as part of American efforts to prevent a large-scale confrontation.
Waltz explained, during a speech at a conference organized by the newspaper “Israel Today” in New York, that Washington will continue to work on “dismantling Hezbollah of its weapons,” adding: “They must be disarmed and remain so. This is a difficult and complex task… The President and the administration want peace, but if harsh steps must be taken, they will be taken.” He affirmed that “Israel has the right to defend itself.”
The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation also quoted the Saudi channel “Al-Hadath” as saying that US envoy Tom Barrack informed the Iraqi government that Israel may soon launch a military operation aimed at completely disarming Hezbollah, warning Baghdad of a “harsh Israeli attack” if pro-Iranian factions intervene.
In a related context, “Kan” pointed out that Israel had complained to the United States about the “failure of the Lebanese army” to deal with Hezbollah’s weapons, explaining that Tel Aviv had threatened to expand the scope of airstrikes inside Lebanon, to include areas it had previously refrained from targeting at the request of the administration of former US President Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump addressed the recent tension between Israel and Syria following the clash that took place last weekend in the town of Beit Jann in southern Syria, which resulted in the death of at least ten Syrians and the injury of six Israeli soldiers during an operation carried out by a special force against wanted persons from the “Islamic Group.” Trump stressed “the importance of maintaining strong communication between Israel and Syria, and not taking any step that could hinder Syria’s development towards a prosperous state.”
These developments come amid continued US efforts to contain the tension on the northern front, while Israeli estimates indicate that the margin for avoiding a confrontation with Hezbollah is rapidly shrinking.
