Khaberni - Despite the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement on Saturday to give instructions to the Israeli army to respond strongly against Hezbollah in Lebanon, senior army officials confirmed that the rules of engagement have not actually changed.
Israeli army officials believe that Netanyahu is trying to blame the army for the "disappointing" military results in Lebanon, according to the newspaper "Yisrael Hayom".
Officials explained after the Israeli army's announcement of bombing military buildings used by Hezbollah across southern Lebanon that the strike was not unusual, and certainly not "strong", but it was executed "within the rules of the game", with the Israeli army ensuring to act only in southern Lebanon and in areas devoid of civilians.
Policy of Blame
Yisrael Hayom reported officials saying that Netanyahu's statement was a cover to reduce public pressure, and did not change anything on the ground or regarding the directives issued to the army.
The officials added that Netanyahu's statement was no coincidence, but rather aimed at blaming the Israeli army and portraying the military establishment as a failing party in execution.
The newspaper revealed escalating disagreements between the Israeli army and the political level regarding operations in Lebanon, especially in the recent weeks, accompanied by contradictions between public statements and field indicators, especially in terms of the disarmament goal which, according to a senior Israeli officer, will not be achieved.
The same source pointed out a large contrast with the impression given by the political authority in Israel, which has given the northern residents an impression that this campaign will not end without a decisive outcome, leaving the army stuck in the middle.
The newspaper said that the feeling within the Israeli army and the security establishment is increasing that Netanyahu is looking for a "scapegoat" to take responsibility for the disappointing results in Lebanon and the partial outcomes in Iran, especially since the army is the only body that communicates with the people while Netanyahu and his ministers continue to avoid visiting the region.
In the Iranian front, "Mossad" is expected to be held responsible, while in Lebanon, the blame will directly fall on the shoulders of the Israeli army, despite the fact that it acted according to the directives of the political level, as it is doing now.
Complex Field Situation
As reported by Yisrael Hayom, the field reality appears tougher and more complicated, as the Israeli army indeed controls wide areas and several locations in southern Lebanon, yet is constrained in providing full protection for the northern communities and its forces in the field, according to the newspaper.
The newspaper states that the fear of U.S. President Donald Trump has kept Beirut - the headquarters of Hezbollah - and Baalbek, safe from targeting.
The greatest challenges lie in complex conditions given the number of forces, the nature of their presence on the ground, the restricted hands of the army, the weapons system it faces, and the motives of Hezbollah to fight, which stem from its increasing confidence, and from the desire to disrupt ongoing peace talks now between Israel and Lebanon in Washington.
The field reality reflects the Israeli army's inability to secure the northern front, where residents face a reality of daily attrition, and the irony here lies in the comparison with the period of the security belt that provided broader stability to the border areas, unlike the current scene which is characterized by the absence of clear political or military solutions.
On April 17, Trump announced a ceasefire in Lebanon between Israel and "Hezbollah" for 10 days extendable, before announcing on Thursday its extension for an additional three weeks.
Before the truce, Israel began on March 2 an aggression on Lebanon, which resulted until Sunday in 2509 deaths and 7755 injuries and more than 1.6 million displaced, according to the latest official data.
Israel occupies areas in southern Lebanon, some since decades and others since the previous war between 2023 and 2024, while it advanced 10 kilometers inside the southern borders during the current aggression.
