Lebanon on edge: Preparing for escalation amidst rising regional tensions

With the daily aggressive tuning towards Gaza and the waving of opening a battle in Rafah, within the framework of a war whose objectives are still illusions in the minds of the warlords in the "occupying state," led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the internal situation remains unchanged. 

This article was originally published in, translated from the Lebanese newspaper al-Liwaa.

What will happen on the Gaza front is anxiously awaited, especially since the "truce" or ceasefire for exchange and assistance has not yet fallen. 

Efforts are ongoing to reach it, and continued aid is being provided by air, sea, and land to the sector's steadfast people.

Based on sources familiar with preparations for a regional escalation to prevent Israel from invading Rafah or imposing a ceasefire on it, "Al-Liwaa" learned that the Lebanese front is preparing for a similar escalation, especially if commercial confrontation escalates from the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean and Cape of Good Hope.

Cabinet-wise, the Secretary-General of the Presidency of the Cabinet, Mahmoud Makie, announced that the caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati is about to call for a cabinet session to discuss matters related to essential topics. 

Thursday morning at the Grand Serail, Mikati received Imran Riza, the UN Deputy Special Coordinator Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon. 

During the meeting, Riza presented Prime Minister Mikati with the development plan 2024, and the economic and social situations in the south were discussed. 

He also informed Mikati of Canada's and Sweden's decision to re-finance UNRWA, thanked Prime Minister Mikati for Canada's and Sweden's reconsideration of financing UNRWA in Lebanon, and called on all countries to continue supporting UNRWA.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants reiterated that Lebanon does not want war and remains committed to engineering peace and sustainable stability in southern Lebanon. He pointed out that Resolution 1701 contributed to creating relative stability since the end of the July 2006 war, noting that the events in Gaza "undermined the rules of the game, destabilized relative stability, and led to the displacement of about one hundred thousand Lebanese from their villages and homes to safer places." 

He stressed the implementation of Resolution 1701, which shows the international borders drawn in 1923 and confirms the truce agreement signed between Lebanon and Israel.

The truce states that Israel should withdraw to the recognized borders, starting from point B1 in Rosh Hanikra to the outskirts of the town of "Mari," which constitutes part of the urban expansion of the Ghajar village. 

Additionally, Israel should entirely withdraw from the Shebaa Farms and Kfarchouba hills, and there should be a permanent cessation of Israeli violations and the extension of state authority south of the Litani River and facilitation of the return of displaced persons to border villages.

Assistant Secretary of State Barbara Leaf warned that Hezbollah is leading Lebanon into a dangerous situation, and "we look forward to the Lebanese state monopolizing weapons and Hezbollah becoming a political party."