Lebanese Official Urges Israel to Support Beirut's Efforts Against Hezbollah
A senior Lebanese official has urged Israel to provide Lebanon with "oxygen" by adopting more precise military tactics in southern Lebanon, stating that current Israeli strikes are undermining Beirut's efforts to disarm Hezbollah. In a rare, anonymous interview with Zman Israel, the official argued that excessive Israeli attacks on villages create a strong backlash against the Lebanese president and hinder joint efforts with Israel.
He cited a recent Israeli strike in the village of Rumaish, which the Lebanese Ministry of Health claimed killed 11 people, including a medic, four women, and two children. The Israeli military stated it targeted Hezbollah operatives transferring weapons and is investigating civilian casualties. Israel justifies its extensive operations by citing Hezbollah's extensive tunnel and terror infrastructure in border villages.
Public statements by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who boasted of "completely destroying" dozens of Lebanese villages and vowed an indefinite Israeli presence, have fueled claims of Israeli territorial ambitions in Lebanon. These statements have also emboldened critics of the Lebanese government's engagement with Israel.
Lebanon began U.S.-mediated negotiations with Israel in April to cooperate on disarming Hezbollah, with a gradual IDF withdrawal and a potential peace agreement. An initial framework agreement in June established "pilot zones" where the Lebanese army replaced IDF forces. However, further power transfers stalled as Israel claims the Lebanese army is not doing enough to disarm Hezbollah.
The Lebanese official stressed that if Israel is dissatisfied with the Lebanese army's performance, it should use negotiation channels to propose concrete steps. He also noted that Hezbollah has dragged Lebanon into a confrontation with Iran and that the Israeli military has taken control of significant areas in southern Lebanon. The official emphasized the urgency of establishing an arms disarmament verification mechanism, as stipulated in the framework agreement, and noted that Israel has vetoed French and British participation in the verification committee, reportedly in response to their sanctions against West Bank settlements.
Upcoming talks in Rome are not expected to yield significant progress before Israel's October 27th Knesset elections, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government shows limited willingness to compromise. The official acknowledged that Hezbollah, not a formal party to the negotiations, is indirectly engaged but making slow progress, insisting on retaining its weapons as long as Israel occupies Lebanese territory. Despite these challenges, he believes a rare opportunity exists to effectively counter Hezbollah, with a majority of Lebanese supporting its disarmament, granting Beirut the political space for talks with Israel. However, he warned that indiscriminate attacks in southern Lebanon justify support for Hezbollah, portraying the government as failing to protect the country.
