Israel Shares Intel on Hezbollah Arms Near Lebanon's Presidential Palace
The Israeli military has provided sensitive intelligence to the U.S. Central Command regarding Hezbollah weapons depots and underground infrastructure located near the Lebanese Presidential Palace in Baabda. According to the Hebrew website "Nitzav Net," Israeli intelligence estimates that Hezbollah is exploiting its proximity to the presidential compound, believing Israel would hesitate to strike the area due to its sovereign significance.
The depots reportedly contain high-quality weapons, including precision long-range missiles, advanced communication systems, and drones. They are also said to house fortified underground command facilities, similar to those previously destroyed by the IDF in other Lebanese areas.
This revelation comes as the Lebanese government, led by President Joseph Aoun, is holding consecutive meetings at the Baabda palace to discuss disarming Hezbollah, a move described as unprecedented in decades. President Aoun has linked disarmament to three conditions: ending the Israeli occupation, the Lebanese army gaining full control, and the state exclusively managing reconstruction.
U.S. officials and Lebanese military leaders have urged immediate action to seize these weapons, with U.S. military and economic aid to Lebanon contingent on addressing this infrastructure. Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, has held secret security meetings with the Israeli Chief of Staff and leaders of moderate Arab armies to form a regional front against Iranian influence.
The Israeli report highlights that the presence of these sensitive weapons near the presidential palace demonstrates Hezbollah's penetration of Lebanese state institutions and disregard for its sovereignty, directly endangering the presidential complex and its occupants. The intelligence is seen as providing broader international legitimacy for the U.S. and Israel to demand disarmament, portraying Hezbollah as a genuine threat to Lebanese state stability.
