Israel preparing for 'major escalation' against Hezbollah, report says

Israeli media have reported that Israel is preparing for a "significant escalation" with Hezbollah, deemed "inevitable" despite Washington's efforts.

Reports claimed that Israel showed U.S Envoy Morgan Ortagus Tuesday "intelligence that proves Hezbollah is rebuilding and rearming" in south Lebanon and that the Lebanese Armed Forces are either unable or unwilling to stop that.

"Israel needs American legitimacy for any step it takes," an Israeli official told Channel 12.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar meanwhile claimed that Hezbollah is "arming itself much faster than it is disarming," and that responsibility for the situation "lies with the Lebanese government." He also claimed that Iran is still financing Hezbollah via Turkey.

"We had a good discussion on the situation in Lebanon. I said that the one violating Lebanese sovereignty is Hezbollah. Hezbollah's disarmament is crucial for Lebanon's future and Israel's security. The U.S. is our greatest ally, and we'll continue our close cooperation," Sa’ar said in a post on the X platform after meeting Ortagus

Since a ceasefire was reached with Israel last year, the United States has increased pressure on Lebanese authorities to disarm Hezbollah.

In August, the Lebanese government ordered the army to devise a disarmament plan. Since then, the army has briefed the government twice on the plan but the discussions were kept secret. The army will present its third report tomorrow, Thursday, in a cabinet session.

The army says the Israeli occupation of five hills in south Lebanon and the near-daily strikes are obstructing its deployment in the south, while Israel says it will keep up strikes, claiming that Hezbollah is rebuilding itself.