Fearing a Trump Intervention, the IDF Is Racing Against the Clock in Lebanon, with Beirut Still Off Limits

The Air Force struck Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon, and no decision has yet been made on how to respond to the infiltrator in the north. This morning, the IDF continued strikes in southern Lebanon and evacuated additional villages, saying, "The ceasefire violation forces us to act with force."

The IDF is continuing to intensify operations in southern Lebanon and launched another wave of strikes this morning. Israel has still not decided on the nature of its response to the militant who crossed into Israel from Lebanon and was killed. The chief of staff said, "The Iranian attempt to establish formulas will fail, and we will continue to deepen the damage." The security establishment is demanding a strategic move that will prevent Iran from dictating reality.

Israel is continuing broad operations today, Wednesday, in southern Lebanon, while Beirut remains outside the range of operations for now, as reported last night in the main edition. The strikes are being carried out under the new balance of deterrence with Iran and Hezbollah, as the security establishment works to destroy as many terrorist capabilities as possible before the American administration decides to halt the activity.

This morning's strikes come after last night's report on N12 about the unusual incident near the community of Margaliot, in which a militant from Lebanon managed to infiltrate Israeli territory and was killed shortly after opening fire on an IDF force operating in the area. However, Israel has still not decided on the nature of the response.

The Air Force struck targets throughout the past day in Tyre, Sidon, Saluki and south of the Litani River. The strikes focused on destroying numerous Hezbollah infrastructures.

"The Iranian attempt to establish formulas to change reality will fail," said the chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, who took part yesterday in a major exercise in the north. "The strike we carried out in Iran was preparation for a much more significant and heavier blow. We will continue to deepen the damage to Hezbollah and act wherever we identify a threat to Israel."

In parallel with the strikes, Col. Avichay Adraee announced this morning an evacuation warning for the villages of Ghassaniyeh, Khoumin al-Fouqa and Ansariyeh in southern Lebanon. In the evacuation warning to residents of the villages, it said, "Hezbollah's violation of the ceasefire forces the IDF to act against it with force. The IDF does not want to harm you."

"For your safety, you must immediately leave your homes in the village and town and move immediately north of the Zahrani River. Anyone who is near Hezbollah operatives, its infrastructure or its weapons is endangering his life," he added.

At the security establishment, concern was expressed that Israel is once again becoming trapped in a system of equations with Iran and Hezbollah. Security officials understand that Iran must not be allowed to dictate reality, and that the political leadership must lead a new strategic move. It appears that a step combining additional components beyond military action is needed, to ensure the IDF's freedom of action and prevent future restrictions.

The IDF is still investigating how the militant managed to approach the border fence and even cross it in an area under continuous security presence and monitoring, while IDF forces continue operating in southern Lebanon.

As noted, the security establishment and the political leadership are expected to address the question of how to respond to the incident. Israel has previously made clear that it will not ignore fire toward communities in the north, and the question now is whether an armed infiltration and attempted attack on Israeli territory will lead to a significant response in Lebanon.