Israel Says Prepared Plans to Invade Lebanon

Israeli bombing on Kafr Kila in southern Lebanon (AFP)
Israeli bombing on Kafr Kila in southern Lebanon (AFP)
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Israel Says Prepared Plans to Invade Lebanon

Israeli bombing on Kafr Kila in southern Lebanon (AFP)
Israeli bombing on Kafr Kila in southern Lebanon (AFP)

Tensions arose at the Lebanese borders even after Hezbollah withdrew its elite Radwan forces to more than 5-6 kilometers from the border.

Israeli officials stated that the army has prepared plans to invade Lebanese territory, and it is not unlikely that it will declare war.

However, political sources in Tel Aviv indicated that France and the US are continuing their efforts to reach an agreement with the Lebanese government.

Fears of the outbreak of war came as a result of a noticeable escalation in missile strikes on Thursday and Friday.

On Friday, the Israeli army targeted, with artillery shelling, the outskirts of Aita al-Shaab amid reconnaissance aircraft flying over the villages adjacent to the Blue Line, all the way to the Tyre area.

Hezbollah announced the death of two of its fighters, "martyrs on the road to Jerusalem."

During the night, the Israeli army fired incendiary bombs and flare bombs into the forests adjacent to the Blue Line on the outskirts of Naqoura and Alma al-Shaab.

Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported, on its Ynet website, noticing a movement of the Radwan towards the north, saying that successful chances of military and political efforts to withdraw Hezbollah from the border are on the rise.

Israeli Channel 12 claimed that half of the Radwan force on the border has already left its place due to Israeli military activity.

The Israeli reports added that Hezbollah had withdrawn its forces to the north, which brought calm to the residents of the northern towns, signaling a possible return to their homes. However, the group's missile bombing reached about 30 kilometers into the Israeli territories, which restored tension.

They noted that the Israeli army insists on responding to the attacks, threatening that continued bombing would lead to war similar to that in Gaza.

According to political sources, the Israeli extreme right is still demanding to seize the opportunity to recruit reserve forces to expand the front with Hezbollah.

But the US administration curbs these intentions and insists on preventing another front with Lebanon because it is convinced it will lead to a regional war that threatens a global war.

The US administration confirmed that President Joe Biden's Envoy, Amos Hochstein, is still making unremitting efforts to reach a truce.

The sources said Hochstein believes that the withdrawal of the Radwan Forces is a positive indication that there is room for progress towards a political agreement that includes a ceasefire and the formation of a security area that prevents slipping into war.

However, the Israelis fear that Hezbollah is seeking an agreement that could sedate Israel for a few months and then choose the time to launch a war similar to the Hamas attack.

They assert that Hezbollah is much stronger than Hamas and possesses combat experience and high-quality weapons that pose a severe threat to Israel. Therefore, a pre-emptive strike should be directed against it.



Kremlin Says It Wants Syria to Swiftly Restore Order after Opposition Attack

Fighters take over the district of Khan al-Assal following fierce fighting between Syrian government forces and opposition forces along with their Turkish-backed allies in the northern Syrian Aleppo province, on November 29, 2024. (Photo by Aaref WATAD / AFP)
Fighters take over the district of Khan al-Assal following fierce fighting between Syrian government forces and opposition forces along with their Turkish-backed allies in the northern Syrian Aleppo province, on November 29, 2024. (Photo by Aaref WATAD / AFP)
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Kremlin Says It Wants Syria to Swiftly Restore Order after Opposition Attack

Fighters take over the district of Khan al-Assal following fierce fighting between Syrian government forces and opposition forces along with their Turkish-backed allies in the northern Syrian Aleppo province, on November 29, 2024. (Photo by Aaref WATAD / AFP)
Fighters take over the district of Khan al-Assal following fierce fighting between Syrian government forces and opposition forces along with their Turkish-backed allies in the northern Syrian Aleppo province, on November 29, 2024. (Photo by Aaref WATAD / AFP)

The Kremlin said on Friday it wanted the Syrian government to restore constitutional order in the Aleppo region as soon as possible after an insurgent offensive there that captured territory for the first time in years.
Russia, a staunch ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, intervened militarily on Assad's side against insurgents in 2015 in its biggest foray in the Middle East since the Soviet Union's collapse, and maintains an airbase and naval facility in Syria.
Opposition led Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group launched an incursion on Wednesday into a dozen towns and villages in the northwestern province of Aleppo, which is controlled by Assad's forces.
It was the first such territorial advance since March 2020 when Russia and Türkiye, which supports the opposition, agreed to a ceasefire that led to the halting of military action in Syria's last major opposition stronghold in the northwest.
Russian and Syrian warplanes bombed an opposition-held area near the border with Türkiye on Thursday to try to push back the insurgents, Syrian army and opposition sources said.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow regarded the attack as a violation of Syria's sovereignty and wanted the authorities to act fast to regain control.
"As for the situation around Aleppo, it is an attack on Syrian sovereignty and we are in favor of the Syrian authorities bringing order to the area and restoring constitutional order as soon as possible," said Peskov.
Asked about unconfirmed Russian Telegram reports that Assad had flown into Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Peskov said he had "nothing to say" on the matter.