As Israel faces intensifying domestic criticism over the war, with opponents saying the government has failed to achieve its goals in Lebanon, Iran, and Gaza, scrutiny has also turned to the military, accused of not telling the truth.
In that context, Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said in closed-door meetings on Wednesday in southern Lebanon, remarks later leaked by the army, that “everything defined for us by the political echelon regarding the current campaign in Iran and Lebanon has been achieved and even beyond that.”
“In doing so, we have created the operational conditions for the processes now being led by the political echelon,” said Zamir.
But a newly launched drone by Hezbollah targeting Israeli artillery in the town of Shomera, wounding 12 soldiers, including two seriously, shifted Zamir’s calculations.
Shomera, a Jewish town built on the ruins of Tarbikha, captured at the end of 1948, is considered Lebanese by Beirut, which granted citizenship to its displaced residents.
Israel destroyed most of its homes and two mosques and turned it into a Jewish locality. In the current war, it has been evacuated, with Israeli forces establishing positions there.
Retaliatory strikes
Following Hezbollah’s attack, the Israeli Air Force launched retaliatory strikes, calling it a serious attack that cannot be ignored.
It hit several sites and ordered residents of 16 villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate ahead of their destruction, including Bchit, Habboush, Harouf, Kfar Jouz, Nabatieh al-Fawqa, Aba, Aadchit, Shaqif, Arab Salim, Toul, Houmine al-Fawqa, Majadel, Arzoun, Dounine, Hmeiri, and Maaroub.
This came as sources close to the government said it is seeking to impose a two- to three-week deadline for negotiations with Lebanon, ending by mid-May, warning it could revert to what it described as the “original plan” for the war if no progress is made.
According to Channel 12, the approach was raised in a Wednesday evening call between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, following what was described as an urgent Israeli request to set a time frame for US-mediated direct talks between Tel Aviv and Beirut.
The sources said the current “limited response” policy is eroding deterrence and harming civilians and operational readiness.
Gaza not over
The Channel 12 report said the Israeli army is operating under political directives to restrain operations in Lebanon, avoiding deep strikes, with any action north of the Litani River requiring special approval.
It said the current posture, limiting the army to response rather than initiative, benefits Hezbollah and gives it room to regroup, exposing Israeli forces to added risks.
Amid the criticism, Zamir toured areas held by Israeli forces in Lebanon on Wednesday, saying the army is carrying out political directives and awaiting further decisions.
“In Lebanon, the mission assigned to us by the political echelon is to position ourselves along the line to prevent direct fire on the communities. We have achieved this; this is the line we are on. We may be required to remain on it,” said Zamir.
The report questioned the cost Israel is paying at this stage, citing what it described as consideration for US interests in the confrontation with Iran.
Zamir also said the next battle could be in Gaza, stressing the war there is not over. If Hamas obstructs disarmament efforts, he said, the army would resume the war with full force.
