Israel fears: A unilateral withdrawal from Lebanon will lead to a similar step in Syria under US pressure
In the security establishment, there is growing concern that the Trump administration will exert heavy political pressure and force Israel into a unilateral withdrawal from Southern Lebanon. The move, already hinted at by senior US officials, raises concerns that a similar path will be forced on the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, despite the ceasefire, the IDF continues to strike with intensity.
The Security Cabinet did not withstand the pressure, and against the backdrop of international pressure, it was decided yesterday (Sunday) to introduce multinational forces and promote bypass arrangements that do not wait for the complete dismantling of Hamas's terrorist infrastructure. Security officials estimate that if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not succeed in curbing or softening the US pressure on the Lebanese arena, the next stage will be a withdrawal from Syria.
In the security establishment, there is growing concern that the Donald Trump administration will exert particularly heavy political pressure and force Israel into a unilateral withdrawal from Southern Lebanon, before the demilitarization of the area from Hezbollah's weapons and terrorist infrastructure is completed.
The emerging move, which has already been hinted at by senior US administration officials, was met in Jerusalem with a firm response that Israel does not intend to withdraw. This move adds to the concern in the security establishment regarding a similar path being promoted in the Gaza Strip.
The source of the tension lies in the content of the Lebanese President's meeting last week at the White House with President Donald Trump, following which assessments in Israel are growing that Washington may try to force a political acceleration plan that will come at the expense of achieving all of Israel's security goals in Southern Lebanon.
Meanwhile, according to reports in Lebanon and from citizens on the Israeli side, in the last 24 hours the IDF continued to destroy Hezbollah's terrorist infrastructure in more than ten locations in Southern Lebanon, including in Mays al-Jabal, on the outskirts of the town of Bint Jbeil, Tibnine, Rchaf, Al-Qantara, and Yaroun.
Furthermore, the Air Force carried out several strikes in the Marjeyoun area, south of the Litani, to remove an immediate threat to forces where suspicious movements were carried out in an area where no one is supposed to be present except for IDF forces.
In addition, there were reports of artillery fire against suspicious activity in the area of Chamaa (near the village is the headquarters of the Western Sector of UNIFIL forces), Tyre District, about six kilometers from the Israeli border, in the area of the village of Mays al-Jabal opposite Moshav Avivim and the Baram forest in the Upper Galilee, and towards the Ali al-Tahir ridge.
