While the world was celebrating the New Year, Israeli media revealed disturbing information indicating the Israeli army’s readiness for military operations in Lebanese territory, and that US President Donald Trump had given the green light for its implementation, which contradicts the prevailing political calm in Lebanon.
In this context, writer and political analyst Ali Hamadeh explained in an interview that “the assurances issued by President Joseph Aoun, which downplay the possibility of a war breaking out, collide with other data coming from more than one source, indicating an actual escalation and raising the level of threats.”
Hamadeh also pointed out that “the leaks pumped by the Israeli media are not random, but rather are issued by the intelligence services, the army, and the Israeli political echelon, and aim to send clear messages stating that there are serious preparations to launch a large-scale operation in Lebanon.”
He noted that “what was published yesterday in the Maariv and Jerusalem Post newspapers speaks clearly of an understanding between Washington and Tel Aviv on expanding the strikes and moving to a broader military operation, based on the consideration that Hezbollah does not respond to the Lebanese government’s calls to hand over weapons, and also ignores the decisions of the Lebanese government and the international community in this regard.”
Hamadeh indicated that “the basic crux of the matter lies in the American position, where the United States, through President Trump himself, insists on complete, not partial, disarmament, which makes this file non-negotiable or negotiable.”
He considered that “the reality goes beyond the proposals presented by Hezbollah leaders regarding the division of stages, especially the saying that the first stage has been completed south of the Litani River, and that what remains is an internal Lebanese matter.”
He affirmed that “Hezbollah’s weapons are no longer viewed as merely an internal matter, but have become an international and regional issue, in addition to being a domestic matter, noting that the international and Arab community reject the continued existence of any weapons or military and security structure of the party as it has been for the past four decades.”
He added that “non-compliance will lead to a high cost, as the price the party may pay is a major strike expected in the near future.” He believed that “war is not inevitable yet, but everything remains dependent on the extent to which Hezbollah adheres to the decisions of the Lebanese government decided on the fifth and seventh of August, and begins handing over its weapons in various Lebanese regions.”
Hamadeh concluded his speech by emphasizing that “if this does not happen, the Israeli strikes, supported by American approval, may affect all the party’s deployment sites, military and security infrastructure, and non-civilian capabilities throughout Lebanon.”
