From Tehran to southern Lebanon: Israel’s multiple-front pressure campaign

Report by Amal Shehadeh, English adaptation by Mariella Succar

The escalation witnessed in southern Lebanon on Monday dominated an emergency cabinet meeting convened by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the Iranian file. 

The meeting followed a conversation between Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump, during which Netanyahu reportedly reiterated his demand for a strike on Iran that would ensure the removal of its uranium stockpile. 

At the same time as the cabinet meeting, the Israeli Air Force was focused on recovering a helicopter that became stranded in southern Lebanon while carrying out a mission to evacuate soldiers wounded in an explosive drone attack launched by Hezbollah.

While Netanyahu maintained the escalation on multiple fronts, Tel Aviv also signaled readiness to negotiate with Lebanon, considering the dismantling of Hezbollah to be the central objective.

Meanwhile, an Israeli report revealed details about the situation on the Lebanese front, from the “yellow line” to what it described as statements by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz.

At the same time, Israeli military and security officials intensified threats to expand strikes and attacks on Lebanon, insisting that the anticipated negotiations in Washington on Thursday and Friday should not proceed without clear assurances from the Lebanese government that it would take measures in line with Israeli demands regarding the ceasefire.

On the ground, and away from the ceasefire discussions and the Washington negotiations, the Israeli army continued its operations. Troops deployed soldier-shaped decoys to mislead Hezbollah explosive drones and reinforced forces and surveillance capabilities in southern Lebanon.

The army also introduced hundreds of “Khanjar” smart scopes designed for individual weapons in an effort to strengthen its ability to confront Hezbollah drones, despite warnings from the Israeli chief of staff about the military’s inability to handle challenges on more than one front due to what he described as a significant shortage in both reserve and regular forces.