Israel weighs next steps on Lebanon as US presses for extended deadline

Report by Amal Shehadeh, English adaptation by Karine Keuchkerian

Opinions in Israel differ on how to handle the Lebanese file. Some security officials say Tel Aviv has agreed to a U.S. request to extend the deadline given to the Lebanese army to dismantle Hezbollah’s weapons south of the Litani River and, as a result, to refrain from launching a wide-scale attack on Lebanon. 

Others, including military officials and experts, believe the decision will take shape after talks between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington.

At the same time, an assessment meeting involving both security and political leaders examined the situation on this front, with indications that officials may comply with the American request. 

Several officials, however, stressed the need to set a new, short-term timetable for implementing Hezbollah’s disarmament, citing concerns that the group could continue strengthening its capabilities.

As U.S. envoys Tom Barrack and Morgan Ortagus prepare for their regional tour next week, the Israeli air force continues its strikes on Lebanon, saying its latest attack targeted — for the second time in less than a week — a training compound for the Radwan Force and other Hezbollah sites.

The strikes involved large amounts of explosives, prompting the Northern Command to inform residents in the area and in Qiryat Shemona that the explosions they were hearing were the result of operations being carried out in southern Lebanon.