The newspaper “Israel Hayom” reported from reliable sources that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in private meetings that Israel intends to exploit the current circumstances to push Hezbollah beyond the Litani River, a goal of greater strategic importance than current military operations.
The sources explained that Netanyahu stressed that any potential agreement between the United States and Iran would not stop the fighting with Hezbollah, considering that the conflict in the northern region is linked to direct Israeli interests and does not depend on any broader regional understandings.
The newspaper also reported that Netanyahu rejected a French ceasefire proposal, which indicates his government’s determination to continue military operations at the present time.
So far, there has been no official comment from the Israeli or French sides regarding these reports.
These leaks come in light of the continuous escalation of events on the Lebanese border, as the border line witnesses an exchange of bombings and attacks between Israel and Hezbollah, amid global diplomatic efforts to reduce tension. The Litani River represents a sensitive point in the security balance, as Security Council Resolution No. 1701 of 2006 prohibits the presence of any armed forces other than the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL forces in its southern region. As military operations continue, fears are growing that the situation could deteriorate into a broader, cross-border conflict.
