Lebanese Officials Protest Israeli Operations
Lebanese officials expressed their concerns on Monday regarding the ongoing activities of Israeli forces within Lebanese territory, despite a peace agreement that is supposed to halt hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.
On Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out the demolition of a significant Hezbollah underground facility located beneath the Lebanese town of Majdal Zaun.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz announced the operation, indicating that U.S. officials were informed beforehand. They stated that the demolished tunnel extended over 200 meters and reached depths of 25 meters, housing hundreds of weapons along with several launch silos aimed at Israeli territory and its citizens.
The joint statement from Netanyahu and Katz emphasized that IDF commanders and soldiers are still active in southern Lebanon, focusing on dismantling terrorist infrastructure and safeguarding northern Israeli communities.
The tunnels under Majdal Zaun were initially set to be destroyed the week prior, along with Hezbollah facilities near the historic Beaufort Castle, which Israeli forces took control of in early June. The operation to capture the Majdal Zaun tunnel resulted in the deaths of at least 20 Hezbollah operatives.
Under U.S. pressure related to a U.S.-Iranian peace agreement, the IDF had postponed the demolition. Efforts to seize Hezbollah’s main tunnel system beneath the Ali Taher ridge were also scaled back.
The demolition took place on Sunday by the Israeli 551st Brigade and Yahalom Combat Engineers. The combat engineers indicated that the tunnels were too deep for airstrikes, leading to at least one additional explosion reported near Beaufort Castle on Monday.
Hezbollah condemned Israel’s alleged violations of the ceasefire, which included airstrikes and drone incursions, particularly referencing the destruction at Majdal Zaun and other actions in two districts. They reported significant Israeli drone activity over southern Lebanese cities, such as Sidon and Nabatieh.
Hezbollah’s statement reaffirmed that these actions breach the ceasefire and declared they would monitor violations while retaining the right to defend their homeland.
In a broader context, Lebanese officials noted that approximately 400,000 people have returned home from the one million displaced due to Israeli military operations. This prompted the government to close 213 out of 692 reception centers for refugees.
There’s mounting focus on the Lebanese government’s ongoing assurances to disarm Hezbollah to prevent future attacks on Israelis. Researcher Hussein Abdul-Hussein referred to a deal struck by Lebanon as a “bargain of the teeth,” which implies that Israel will control significant areas of southern Lebanon unless the Hezbollah threat is neutralized.
Abdul-Hussein pointed out that past ceasefires allowed Hezbollah to regroup. This new agreement ties the restoration of Lebanese territory to disarmament efforts, posing an ultimatum for Lebanon: either remove Hezbollah’s weaponry or forfeit southern Lebanon.
He noted that Hezbollah’s opposition to the agreement and ire towards the Lebanese government indicates their insecurity, viewing the sovereign government’s peace negotiations as a greater threat to Iranian ambitions than military losses.
Some Israeli leaders remain skeptical, suggesting Hezbollah is likely using the ceasefire as an opportunity to rearm. Eitan Davidi, chairman of Moshav, expressed concerns that while the peace deal might show that Lebanon officially recognizes Israel, it is unlikely to effectively eliminate Hezbollah’s military capabilities compared to their previous arrangements.
Davidi acknowledged the Lebanese desire to disarm Hezbollah but also highlighted the limitations of their government to enforce such changes. He expressed doubt about the efficacy of the new deal relative to past agreements.
IDF officials clarified that the Israel-Lebanon agreement commits to “redeployment” rather than a full withdrawal from Lebanon, indicating that complete withdrawal is not anticipated soon. Current IDF sentiments suggest a cautious optimism regarding the Israeli-Lebanese agreement compared to U.S.-Iran negotiations.
Looking ahead, operations targeting Hezbollah’s underground facilities near Beaufort Castle could complicate the recently established cooperation, especially with reports of Hezbollah operatives trapped in tunnels as the IDF prepares to act.
