Smoke rising on the Lebanese side of the border after an 'Israeli' airstrike last month. 'Israel’s' war on Gaza has led to fears of a war on Lebanon.
US gives ‘Israel’ green light for potential Hezbollah strike: Report
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- ‘Israeli’ army raises alert amid concerns over potential Hezbollah attacks.
- Trump reportedly authorizes Netanyahu to act militarily if Lebanon fails to disarm Hezbollah.
The ‘Israeli’ army has raised its alert level in anticipation of a possible military operation against Hezbollah in Lebanon, 'Israeli' media reported.
Reports indicate that US President Donald Trump gave ‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a green light to take military action if deemed necessary.
Read more: ‘Israeli’ forces detain 50 Palestinians on New Year’s Eve
Disarmament efforts stall
The Lebanese government began a five-phase plan last August to disarm Hezbollah under pressure from Washington and ‘Israel’. Hezbollah quickly rejected the plan, calling it a “sin” and emphasizing the priority of ‘Israeli’ withdrawal from Lebanese territory.
Hezbollah deputy secretary-general Sheikh Naim Qassem described the disarmament initiative as a joint US-‘Israeli’ project and criticized Lebanese concessions, noting that ‘Israel’ had not reciprocated.
Military preparations
The ‘Israeli’ security establishment believes Lebanon’s disarmament steps fall short of the ceasefire requirements. The army is reportedly monitoring Hezbollah’s attempts to rebuild capabilities, particularly north of the Litani River, including precision missile systems and other offensive platforms, according to the 'Israeli' newspaper Maariv.
Read more: ‘Israeli’ intelligence admits failure to infiltrate Hamas: report
Sources said the army intends to present options for weakening Hezbollah to the political leadership and stressed the potential need for a military strike if disarmament fails.
Coordination with the United States
Reports from 'Israeli' Channel 15 and the Jerusalem Post indicate that Netanyahu and Trump discussed the issue during a meeting at Mar-a-Lago. Trump assured Netanyahu that the US supports any action deemed necessary if the Lebanese army cannot neutralize Hezbollah’s arsenal.
Trump reportedly reiterated his stance on the complete disarmament of Hezbollah, criticizing the group’s conduct and vowing to monitor Lebanon’s progress.
Strategic context
Military analyst Brigadier Elias Hanna told Al Jazeera that ongoing ‘Israeli’ airstrikes in eastern and southern Lebanon reflect a “punitive deterrence” strategy, aiming to increase the cost of any confrontation and prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its capabilities.
He emphasized that the strikes are not conventional preemptive attacks but part of a preventative doctrine designed to maintain ‘Israeli’ strategic advantage.
He warned that Hezbollah is unlikely to respond immediately, as its deterrence strategy has shifted toward “disruption deterrence”, focusing on survival and maintaining influence in future negotiations.
The 2023–2024 war between ‘Israel’ and Hezbollah left over 4,000 dead and more than 17,000 wounded. Despite a ceasefire, ‘Israel’ continues to occupy five Lebanese hills in the south along with other long-held positions.
