The talks come one year after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which Israeli officials say is eroding.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday met with US President Donald Trump’s envoy for Lebanon affairs, Morgan Ortagus, in Israel as border tensions with Lebanon intensify, according to Israeli officials. Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Intelligence Chief Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder joined the meeting. The talks come one year after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which Israeli officials say is eroding. “If there is no dramatic change by the end of the agreement period, another round of fighti ng in the north is almost inevitable," a security official told The Jerusalem Post.
Senior Israeli officials say Lebanon’s government and army are not taking sufficient steps to disarm Hezbollah, warning that the group has grown its ranks and replenished missiles and rockets smuggled from Syria.
Another security official said Israel has plans for every scenario. “There is already a prepared plan for every type of operation,” the official said. In both Jerusalem and Washington, December 31 is being discussed as a deadline after which Israel and the United States will reassess options.
Representatives of the countries overseeing the ceasefire’s implementation are due to meet on Wednesday in Naqoura. Ortagus is expected to attend the session, then travel to Beirut to convey a message from senior Israeli officials. The message, according to officials, is direct: “Either Hezbollah disarms, or Israel will be forced to act.”
Israeli and Western frustration over Hezbollah’s disarmament pace has grown in recent weeks, alongside reports of increased activity along the frontier and debate over UNIFIL’s role. The ceasefire’s first anniversary has sharpened scrutiny of whether Beirut is enforcing commitments to keep Hezbollah’s weapons away from the border. (Source)
Senior Israeli officials say Lebanon’s government and army are not taking sufficient steps to disarm Hezbollah, warning that the group has grown its ranks and replenished missiles and rockets smuggled from Syria.
Another security official said Israel has plans for every scenario. “There is already a prepared plan for every type of operation,” the official said. In both Jerusalem and Washington, December 31 is being discussed as a deadline after which Israel and the United States will reassess options.
Representatives of the countries overseeing the ceasefire’s implementation are due to meet on Wednesday in Naqoura. Ortagus is expected to attend the session, then travel to Beirut to convey a message from senior Israeli officials. The message, according to officials, is direct: “Either Hezbollah disarms, or Israel will be forced to act.”
Israeli and Western frustration over Hezbollah’s disarmament pace has grown in recent weeks, alongside reports of increased activity along the frontier and debate over UNIFIL’s role. The ceasefire’s first anniversary has sharpened scrutiny of whether Beirut is enforcing commitments to keep Hezbollah’s weapons away from the border. (Source)
