Israel continues its extensive military operations in southern Lebanon, while Beirut remains outside the scope of targeting at this stage, amid Israeli estimates that the army is working under time pressure for fear that the administration of US President Donald Trump will decide to stop military activity in Lebanon.
According to a report by journalist Nir Dvory in “N12” in the central bulletin, today, Wednesday, Israel continued to operate extensively in southern Lebanon, while the city of Beirut remains outside the scope of operations at the present time, as was published yesterday evening in the central bulletin.
The report indicated that the strikes are being carried out in light of a new balance of deterrence with Iran and Hezbollah, while the Israeli security system is working to destroy as much of Hezbollah’s capabilities as possible before the US administration makes a decision to stop the operation.
These strikes come after “N12” published yesterday evening the details of the exceptional incident that occurred near the Margaliot settlement, where a gunman from Lebanon managed to infiltrate into Israel, before he was killed after opening fire on an Israeli army force that was operating in the area.
However, Israel has not yet decided on the nature of the response to the infiltration incident.
Israeli Army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said, during his participation yesterday in a major maneuver in the north, that “the Iranian attempt to establish equations and change reality will fail.”
Zamir added: “The attack we carried out in Iran was a prelude to a much larger and more severe strike. We will continue to deepen the strikes against Hezbollah and we will act everywhere we detect a threat to Israel.”
The report indicated that the Israeli security system is concerned that Israel will once again find itself within a system of equations with Iran and Hezbollah.
According to the report, Israeli security authorities realize that Iran should not be allowed to impose reality, and that the political level must lead a new strategic step that is not limited to military operations alone, but includes additional components that guarantee the freedom of action of the Israeli army and prevent the imposition of future restrictions on it.
On the other hand, the Israeli army is still investigating how the gunman was able to approach the border fence and even cross it, in an area subject to constant security presence and surveillance, while its forces continue to operate inside southern Lebanon.
It is expected that the security system and the political level in Israel will discuss the issue of responding to the infiltration incident, especially since Tel Aviv had previously made clear that it would not condone shooting towards the northern towns.
The question remains inside Israel, according to the report, whether armed infiltration and an attempt to carry out an attack inside Israeli territory will lead to a broad response in Lebanon, or whether American and regional calculations will keep Beirut outside the circle of fire at this stage.
