Israel Pursues Dual Strategy in Lebanon: Military Pressure Alongside Negotiations
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Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, Israel continues to target Lebanon, revealing a calculated two-pronged approach involving both military operations and a political process. Recent reports indicate a deliberate strategy to dismantle Hezbollah’s military capabilities while together engaging in negotiations through the “mechanisms” Committee.
US Green Light and Shifting Priorities
according to sources close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the US governance has tacitly approved continued Israeli operations against Hezbollah. However, Washington is also actively pressuring Israel to support the Lebanese goverment and President Joseph Aoun. This dual messaging reflects a complex US strategy aimed at preventing a wider regional conflict.
“There is now no definitive decision to escalate,” stated an Israeli official, as reported by yedioth Ahronoth. “The American factor is essential in decision-making,” with Washington exerting pressure on Tel Aviv comparable to that used during the implementation of the gaza plan under President Donald Trump.
diplomatic Overture Driven by Deterrence
Haaretz newspaper suggests Lebanon’s willingness to engage in diplomatic negotiations – extending beyond purely military discussions – stems from a perceived and growing threat of expanded conflict.this shift was reportedly accompanied by significant pressure from both the US and Arab nations seeking to de-escalate tensions.The key question now, according to the report, is whether Israel will deviate from its practice of negotiating only while maintaining military pressure.
Conversely, Lebanon is being challenged to demonstrate its commitment to disarming Hezbollah and removing its weapons and facilities from southern regions.
Limitations of Israeli Military Action
Despite its advanced military technology, Israel faces limitations in its ability to fully eliminate Hezbollah through force. Hisham Jaber, head of the Middle East Center for Military Research and Strategic Studies, explained to Al-Markazia that a complete disarming of the group would necessitate a full-scale ground invasion of Lebanon – an operation Israel appears unwilling to undertake.
“eliminating Hezbollah and disarming it by force requires a ground war launched by Israel against Lebanon, but it is unable to do so,” Jaber stated. He pointed to Israel’s unsuccessful advances during the 2006 Lebanon War and its ongoing struggles to dismantle Hamas as evidence of its limitations.
Psychological Warfare and Internal Pressure
rather than a large-scale invasion,Israel appears to be employing a strategy of psychological warfare,utilizing its air force and technology to target Lebanese regions. This approach, one analyst suggests, is intended to pressure the Lebanese army into confronting Hezbollah from within.
Jaber believes that even if Hezbollah were to surrender its weapons, Israel would continue to exert pressure on Lebanon through ongoing targeting, seeking to control its political and economic landscape. He cites Israel’s continued actions in Syria – even after the destruction of the Syrian army and the establishment of peace negotiations – as a precedent for this behavior.
Ultimately, the situation remains volatile, with the outcome dependent on a delicate balance of military pressure, diplomatic maneuvering, and the influence of external actors like
