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Israel Reinforces Army Presence on Lebanon’s Borders in Anticipation of 'Gas War'

US Special Envoy Amos Hochstein is leading efforts to reach an agreement between Lebanon and Israel to demarcate the maritime borders (EPA)
US Special Envoy Amos Hochstein is leading efforts to reach an agreement between Lebanon and Israel to demarcate the maritime borders (EPA)
    Tel Aviv - Beirut - Asharq Al-Awsat
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Israel Reinforces Army Presence on Lebanon’s Borders in Anticipation of 'Gas War'

US Special Envoy Amos Hochstein is leading efforts to reach an agreement between Lebanon and Israel to demarcate the maritime borders (EPA)
US Special Envoy Amos Hochstein is leading efforts to reach an agreement between Lebanon and Israel to demarcate the maritime borders (EPA)

Israel warned of the possibility of a war with Lebanon if Hezbollah carried out its threats to prevent work on a gas extraction platform in a disputed area in the Mediterranean.

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said in an interview with Radio 103 FM in Tel Aviv on Monday: “I believe that in the future, there will be two gas platforms. One on our side, one on theirs. And I hope that we do not have to go through another round of confrontations before then.”

He continued: “I believe that [Hezbollah] is not interested in an agreement to demarcate the borders between the two sides. However, if [the party] tries to carry out the threat of [its leader Hassan] Nasrallah that he will not let Israel extract gas in the event of not reaching an agreement on the demarcation of the maritime borders, then attacking an Israeli platform may lead to a day of fighting that could develop into several combat days, and this may lead to war. There will be a tragedy for the state of Lebanon and its citizens.”

Sources in Tel Aviv had pointed to tangible progress in the ongoing US-brokered negotiations on the border demarcation. The sources talked about the possibility of Israel ceding a section inside the sea, in exchange for a Lebanese abandoning an area closer to the shore.

On Sunday evening, Israeli Channel 12 said that Israeli security officials feared that Nasrallah would seek to provoke Israel again, “in the hope of obtaining Israeli concessions,” noting that the two sides were about to sign an agreement.

Sources in Beirut, however, denied the news and said that they were not aware of such mutual concessions.

For his part, the former head of the Military Intelligence Division in the Israeli army, Amos Yadlin, warned Sunday that Hezbollah was becoming “overconfident in its provocations… and was at risk of overplaying its hand and sparking a conflict with Israel, similar to the buildup ahead of the last war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.”

On Monday, reinforcements and masses of Israeli forces were seen on high alert on the northern border with Lebanon.

In Beirut, the media office of the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Elias Bou Saab, issued a statement, saying that he had a lengthy conversation on Monday afternoon with US mediator Amos Hochstein, over the course of the maritime negotiations.

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Arab World

Grundberg Hopes ‘Gaza Truce’ Will Revive the Peace Process in Yemen

Hans Grundberg, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, briefs on Wednesday the Security Council on the situation in Yemen (UN)
Hans Grundberg, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, briefs on Wednesday the Security Council on the situation in Yemen (UN)
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Grundberg Hopes ‘Gaza Truce’ Will Revive the Peace Process in Yemen

Hans Grundberg, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, briefs on Wednesday the Security Council on the situation in Yemen (UN)
Hans Grundberg, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, briefs on Wednesday the Security Council on the situation in Yemen (UN)

Hans Grundberg, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, warned on Wednesday from the alarming escalation in Yemen that would have devastating humanitarian consequences for the Yemeni people.

In a briefing to the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East, Grundberg said a ceasefire in Gaza signals hope that a return to the peace process could materialize between the Yemeni government and Houthis.

The envoy’s briefing came after his talks with Yemeni, regional and international stakeholders across the region, during visits to Muscat, Sanaa, Tehran, and Riyadh to intensify engagements for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

Grundberg has lately kicked off efforts to secure the release of all arbitrarily detained personnel from the United Nations, national and international organizations, diplomatic missions, and the private sector.

In his briefing, the envoy expressed concern over reports of a new wave of arbitrary detentions, which further exacerbates the suffering of families and undermines trust.

Grundberg mentioned the Houthi attacks on the ships in the Red Sea and said they hindered the prospects of peace.

He added that a ceasefire in Gaza signals hope that an opportunity to de-escalate could materialize.

The envoy said the escalating cycle of strikes and counterstrikes has hindered the prospects of peace and destabilized Yemen's economy, adding that the relative stability and improved security conditions for civilians that have existed since the 2022 truce could be lost.

In contrast to Grundberg's hopes for a revival of the peace process, many Yemenis fear the Houthis would ignite a new war against the Yemeni government, exploiting the popular sympathy with Palestine that has enabled the group to recruit tens of thousands over the past year.

In this regard, Grundberg said, “I am concerned that parties may reassess their options for peace and make miscalculations based on flawed assumptions.”

Escalation and Detainees

In his briefing, the envoy mentioned the damage caused by the Houthi attacks and the Israeli and Western strikes in Yemen.

“Recent Israeli airstrikes have damaged critical civilian infrastructure, including the port of Hodeidah and Sanaa International Airport,” he said, adding that the damage to the port and tugboats impacts the ability to unload humanitarian aid.

Grundberg said during his meetings in Sanaa, he again urged Houthis to immediately and unconditionally release all arbitrarily detained personnel from the United Nations, national and international organizations, diplomatic missions, and the private sector.

He further called on the Houthis to release the Galaxy Leader vessel and its 25-member crew, which have been unlawfully detained for over a year now.
He urged all parties to urgently take concrete steps towards achieving a nationwide ceasefire agreement in Yemen.

Elsewhere, Grundberg spoke about his office’s engagement in extensive dialogues with Yemeni parties at the technical level on economic and military issues.

“In our discussions, we explored how collaboration between the parties could unlock critical peace dividends. These include the unification of the central bank, the resumption of fossil fuel exports, and the full payment of public sector salaries,” he said.

Yemeni, US Statements

During Grundberg’s briefing, the representative of the United States, Dorothy Shea, said, “The time has come to respond to the growing global threats by holding Iran to account for enabling the Houthis long-range missile attacks on international shipping and Israel.”

She said the Houthis have expanded their campaign of detaining innocent Yemenis, targeting more former embassy staff simply trying to do their jobs.

She stressed the need to deprive the Houthis of illicit revenues that sustain their attacks and recognize the growing relationship between the Houthis and other terrorist groups like al-Shabaab.

Meanwhile, Abdullah Ali Fadhel Al-Saadi, Permanent Representative of Yemen to the United Nations, addresses the Security Council meeting on the situation in his country.

“The humanitarian and economic situation in Yemen is intolerable,” he said, adding that the government is eager to engage with all efforts to reach a political settlement.

Al-Saadi also called on the Security Council to assume its responsibilities and implement its decisions that end the Houthi coup based on agreed international references.