As fears grow of an imminent escalation with Iran, Israel has delivered an ultimatum to the Lebanese government: stop Hezbollah from joining the fighting, or the war in Lebanon will resume.

Through US mediators, Jerusalem has demanded in recent days that the Lebanese army set up checkpoints in areas linked to Hezbollah terrorists. A security official explained that the move is meant to stop the terror group from opening another front. He stressed that if Hezbollah gets involved under pressure from Tehran, the fighting in Lebanon will start again, despite the direct talks recently held between the two countries.

While pressing Beirut, the IDF is also working on the ground to destroy Hezbollah’s infrastructure as it prepares for a possible return to combat. Over the past three weeks, the Israeli Air Force has sharply increased its strikes in southern Lebanon. The strikes are focused on open areas that the Lebanese army has so far avoided entering because it lacks the manpower, motivation and ability.

The tension in the north comes as Israel makes intense preparations for action against Iran. The assessment in Israel is that President Donald Trump may order a return to the fighting within days. Such a move is expected to include a joint US-Israeli operation focused on energy facilities and nuclear targets.

As part of the coordination ahead of a possible strike, senior IDF officers and US Central Command held a series of discussions over the weekend. A round of talks was also held with Gulf states, with an emphasis on members of the Abraham Accords.

Israeli officials are deeply pessimistic about the chances of a diplomatic solution. They expect the mediation talks held in recent days between Iran and Qatar to end without a breakthrough.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)