Translation of “Lebanon Debate”
An Israeli report stated that the efforts led by President Joseph Aoun and Speaker of the House of Representatives Nabih Berri to persuade Hezbollah to withdraw from the Ali al-Taher Heights and hand over control of them to the Lebanese army have not achieved results so far, amid fears of an Israeli escalation that may extend beyond the region to other heights in the south.
According to a report by journalist Ran Meir on Israeli Channel 13, the initiative encountered a lack of cooperation on the part of Hezbollah, while the main concern now focuses on the possibility of Israel resorting to expanding its military operations.
The channel quoted sources as saying that any Israeli escalation will not stop at Ali Al-Taher, but may extend to Al-Rayhan and Sujoud, two villages located on the heights of Jabal Al-Rayhan in southern Lebanon, about 83 kilometers from Beirut.
The sources added that the Israeli side is no longer prepared to make additional concessions unless the Lebanese state takes practical steps regarding Hezbollah’s weapons file.
The sources said, “The deadlock on the ground reflects on the course of the negotiations, and therefore a final date has not yet been set for the next round of talks in Rome,” noting that there are difficulties related to the so-called “experimental areas” and the committee supervising them.
In parallel, “The Cradle” website reported that the Israeli army had carried out at least 10 attacks in Lebanon since midnight, including air strikes on the town of Mansouri, and artillery shelling targeting sites in the Ali Al-Taher Heights, in addition to a drone strike in Nabatieh.
The report also stated that Israeli forces advanced into the town of Shebaa, took control of a house and raised the Israeli flag above it.
There were also reports of the Israeli army targeting sites in southern Lebanon, which led to the outbreak of fires at points that were bombed around the towns of Aita al-Jabal and Hadada.
On Thursday, the Israeli army spokesman announced the targeting of Hezbollah infrastructure in the Nabatieh area, including weapons depots that were allegedly intended to target Israeli army forces and civilians in Israel.
The Israeli army claimed that the raids came in response to Hezbollah’s attempt to launch explosive drones during the night towards its forces operating in the Ali al-Tahir Heights area within what it described as the “security area,” indicating that no casualties were reported.
Thus, Ali Al-Taher’s complex turns from a limited field dispute to a factor putting pressure on the course of the Rome negotiations, amid fears of the escalation spreading to Al-Rayhan and Sujood.
