Khaberni - Axios reported from Israeli and American officials that Israel plans to significantly expand its ground operations in Lebanon, aiming to take control over the entire area south of the Litani River and dismantle the military infrastructure of Hezbollah. A high-ranking Israeli official said: "We will do what we did in Gaza," referring to the demolition of buildings that Israel says Hezbollah uses to store weapons and launch attacks.
According to Israeli officials, the Israeli government is still trying to contain the escalation in Lebanon, to focus on Iran. However, this situation changed last Wednesday when Hezbollah launched over 200 rockets in a large-scale coordinated attack with Iran.
A high-ranking Israeli official said: "Before this attack, we were prepared to cease fire in Lebanon, but after it, there is no way to retreat from a wide-scale military operation." He added: "The objective is to take control of the land, push Hezbollah’s forces north away from the border, and dismantle their military sites and weapon storages in the villages."
American and Israeli officials told Axios that the Trump administration asked Israel not to bomb Beirut International Airport or any other Lebanese infrastructure during the operation. American officials confirmed that Israel agreed not to target the airport but did not commit to protecting other state infrastructure. An Israeli official reported that they would consult with Washington on a case-by-case basis, adding "we feel we have full American support for this operation." An American official said: "The Israelis need to do whatever it takes to stop Hezbollah’s bombardment."
According to American and Israeli officials, it is interesting that Netanyahu appointed former minister Ron Dermer to manage the Lebanese file during the war. Officials explained that Dermer would handle communications with the Trump administration and lead any negotiations with the Lebanese government if direct talks begin in the coming weeks. Axios sources clarified that the Trump administration wants to use these negotiations to pave the way for a broader agreement that formally ends the state of war between Israel and Lebanon, ongoing since 1948.
