Israel sent direct political and security messages to the Lebanese state and Hezbollah, through a sudden escalation in the south that resulted in the killing of 11 people, including entire family members, on the eve of the expiration of the 60-day deadline stipulated in the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran.
According to a report by Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, the Israeli raids targeted two towns in southern Lebanon, where paramedics and residents worked to search for bodies and survivors amid the rubble of destroyed buildings in the village of Deir Al-Zahrani.
The Israeli army said that the raids came in response to a military operation carried out by Hezbollah against its forces operating inside southern Lebanon. He added that he targeted a leadership headquarters belonging to the party, which led to the killing of a leader in the “Radwan Unit.”
The escalation came in conjunction with American mediation between Lebanon and Israel aimed at establishing the ceasefire and expanding the scope of what is known as the “model areas” in southern Lebanon.
President Joseph Aoun considered that the Israeli escalation constitutes “a message to the negotiating track and to American efforts aimed at implementing the framework agreement.”
For his part, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam saw the escalation as “undermining efforts to stabilize the south,” stressing that “dealing with any military structures, if they exist on Lebanese territory, is the exclusive responsibility of the state, and their presence does not give Israel the right to invade Lebanese territory or expose civilians to danger.”
While Hezbollah has not claimed responsibility for carrying out any military operation, Tel Aviv is trying to establish new rules of engagement linked to its preparations to control the “Ali al-Tahir” heights.
The newspaper quoted sources as saying that the Israeli message addressed to Hezbollah is clear: any attempt to obstruct the advance towards the heights will be met with an expansion of the scope of the bombing deep into Lebanon, which will place the front facing a more dangerous field equation in the next stage.
