Israel prepares for wide-scale attack on Lebanon

Shafaq News/ On Friday, Israeli media revealed the readiness of the Israeli army's Northern Command for a wide-scale attack on Lebanon, awaiting political approval.

According to Hebrew Channel 12, Israel acknowledges the possibility of an inevitable war, noting that it is not certain whether Hezbollah correctly analyzes Israel's seriousness in acting in Lebanon, which increases the risk of expanding the arena.

Notably, tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have escalated in the last days.

On Thursday, an Israeli airstrike on a building between the towns of Janata and Deir Qanoun Al-Nahr in south Lebanon resulted in the death of two women and injuries to several civilians, according to local reports.

This is the first time when Isreal attacks this area, which is approximately 21 kilometers from the nearest border point.

The attack followed a recent surge in hostilities, with Hezbollah launching more than 250 rockets at Israel within two days in its largest attack since the conflict began on October 7.

Hezbollah's targeting was a response to an Israeli airstrike in the town of Jwaya, southern Lebanon, which killed four Hezbollah members, including the prominent commander, Taleb Sami Abdallah, also known as Abu Talib, the leader of Hezbollah's 'Victory' unit.

Lebanese sources stated that Abu Talib is the highest-ranking Hezbollah official to be assassinated since the onset of the Israeli war on Gaza and southern Lebanon.

Israeli military spokesman David Menser affirmed in a press conference that Israel "will respond forcefully to all attacks carried out by Hezbollah."

He added, "Israel will restore security on our northern border through diplomatic efforts or otherwise."

So far, the escalation has resulted in the deaths of at least 469 people in Lebanon, including at least 307 Hezbollah members and 90 civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Hezbollah statements and Lebanese official sources.

On the Israeli side, 15 soldiers and 11 civilians have been reported killed. However, the Israeli figures are reported to be much higher, and the casualties among soldiers are higher.

On Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that the leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) countries – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States have agreed to set up a trilateral committee to discuss a roadmap for defusing tensions between Lebanese Hezbollah and Israel.

The committee includes France, Israel, and the United States.

The United States expressed concerns over a possible escalation between the two sides.

According to Reuters, a senior US official said the United States is very concerned that hostilities between the Israeli army and Hezbollah could escalate to a full-out war, adding that specific security arrangements are needed for the area. A ceasefire in Gaza is not enough.

"We have had consistent and urgent conversations at different times with Israel and Lebanon over the eight months, from the very beginning of this crisis ... to keep this from developing into a full-out war that could have implications beyond elsewhere in the region," the official said.