Uncertainty grows as Israel awaits Lebanon's response to ‘historic opportunity’

Report by Amal Shehadeh, English adaptation by Karine Keuchkerian 

Israel is awaiting Lebanon’s response to what Washington has described as a “historic opportunity” to accelerate the diplomatic track between the two countries. 

The opportunity is said to be based on Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s openness to a request to hold a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington.

Despite Tel Aviv’s expectation that Aoun is unlikely to respond positively to the U.S. proposal, reports of Netanyahu’s possible trip to Washington next week have persisted. 

The Israeli prime minister has faced criticism over what opponents describe as a policy of restraint toward Hezbollah, reportedly at the request of U.S. President Donald Trump.

As the situation remains unclear, the Home Front Command has returned to a state of alert across most northern settlements. The Israeli military issued a statement urging residents to remain close to protected areas.

At the same time, the military acknowledged fierce clashes involving its forces in southern Lebanon, where deployed troops came under a barrage of rockets and drone attacks by Hezbollah, wounding a number of soldiers. 

The air force, however, said operations are continuing, adding that recent strikes have destroyed at least 900 Hezbollah infrastructure sites.