While Netanyahu is in the USA: Hezbollah takes the opportunity for escalation
Military correspondent Sharia Harush commented on News 14 regarding Hezbollah's attack on an IDF engineering vehicle last night. He noted that the IDF views this as a serious ceasefire violation that necessitates a response.
Military correspondent Sharia Harush commented today (Wednesday) in the News 14 open studio on the aggression recorded last night by the terrorist organization Hezbollah:
"Recently, they have used drones mainly for photography and intelligence gathering. Last night, one of their drones hit an IDF engineering vehicle, and the army defined this as a serious violation of the ceasefire. In other words: the IDF informs that it will be forced to respond."
Harush added regarding the need to clarify the equation with the terrorist organization: "There is no way to escape this; the days when it was possible to sugarcoat words and claim false identification are over. This is black and white. I don't think, by the way, that this surprises anyone on the Israeli or American side."
Israel is currently in a difficult position, especially against the backdrop of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trip to the USA, Sharia explained:
"We saw last week the President of Lebanon arrive to see Donald Trump at the White House, receiving a warm embrace and tailwind. It is evident that the Americans want to see the pilot project in southern Lebanon succeed. Israel is facing a problem: on one hand, it must respond to Hezbollah for the hit on the engineering vehicle, and on the other hand, American pressure pushes to contain the event and maintain the pilot project in which American forces are also involved."
On the other hand, Sharia presented another way to understand the incident: "Beyond the possibility that Iran is pushing Hezbollah to escalate, it is possible that the terrorist organization has its own reasons for the move. Against the backdrop of a potential intense campaign against Iran, Hezbollah understands that if Israel joins, it will take the opportunity to also hit the terrorist organization as an Iranian proxy. Another reason is the understanding that the memorandum of understanding between the USA and Iran is 'dead', as President Trump expressed. Hezbollah is taking the opportunity to regain influence and exert efforts that will lead to the collapse of the pilot project that threatens its status. If there is a major campaign now, the Lebanese army will retreat and Hezbollah will enter in its place, marking the end of the pilot project."
As recalled, last week a new security pilot project began in southern Lebanon, within which the Lebanese army was deployed in several locations from which the IDF withdrew, with the goal of preventing the return of Hezbollah to the area. Its success may influence its expansion to additional areas along the border. In parallel and in accordance with the agreement with the state of Lebanon, the IDF maintains freedom of action in areas where the pilot project does not apply, operating there to clear terrorist infrastructure and enemy forces.
