Reports: US reining in Israel in Lebanon, wants to preserve regional stability
The U.S. administration is currently preventing Israel from escalating its strikes in Lebanon, pressing it to settle for limited attacks, Israel’s Channel 12 said.
Quoting reports issued in Washington and Jerusalem, the channel said the Israeli security establishment is pushing for a broad operation in Lebanon and that the air force is prepared for such a scenario that would be aimed at “preventing Hezbollah from rebuilding its capabilities in the fields of missiles, rockets and drones.”
“The key factor that is blocking a broad campaign at the moment is the heavy U.S. pressure, with Washington preventing any broad ground operation or even an air campaign,” Channel 12 added.
It also said that the U.S. messages conveyed through diplomatic channels to Lebanon and Iraq are aimed at “preserving regional stability and preventing an all-out war.”
Israel’s Haaretz newspaper meanwhile said that it is unlikely that Washington would give Israel a green light for an operation in Lebanon, adding that there are discussions over “new agreements related to both the deadline” given to Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah south of the Litani River as well as to “the achievements required in every stage.” Haaretz added that Washington is expected to grant Lebanon two additional months to finish the demilitarization of the South Litani sector.
A conclusion presented by Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies meanwhile said that “a change has occurred in the Lebanese balance of power but is not a drastic change.”
The Institute also recommended continued strikes on Hezbollah targets to “prevent it from rehabilitating its assets,” adding that “it is preferable to avoid waging broad attacks resulting in civilian casualties and leading to an erosion of political and military legitimacy.”
But the Institute said the Lebanese Army must be asked to “purge the military institution from those loyal to Hezbollah.”
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