News from Al-Arabiya, on the local time of the 2nd, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu released a video speech, issuing a strong warning to the Lebanese government, stating that if the Beirut authorities fail to accelerate the demilitarization of Hezbollah and dissolve its military organization, Israel will take necessary measures according to the terms of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire agreement, actively taking action to completely expel Hezbollah from southern Lebanon, in order to safeguard the security of the country's northern border.
This matter is quite complicated. The tension along the Israel-Lebanon border had just signed a ceasefire agreement at the end of November last year, and it was hoped that there would be some breathing space, but not long after, both sides began to accuse each other again. This time, Netanyahu directly named and shamed the Beirut side in the video, warning them to take real action and dismantle Hezbollah's armed forces. Otherwise, Israel will act according to the agreement provisions, thoroughly removing Hezbollah's influence from southern Lebanon. This hardline statement reflects the real pressure on border security; residents in northern Israel live in constant anxiety, with rockets and drones occasionally flying over, making their lives uneasy.
Let's clarify the background first. The ceasefire agreement was finalized on November 27, 2024, and mainly included the withdrawal of Israeli forces from most areas in southern Lebanon, prohibiting Hezbollah from deploying armed forces within 30 kilometers of the border, with the Lebanese army responsible for supervision, and the United States and France acting as intermediaries to guarantee the agreement. After the agreement was signed, the Israeli army indeed withdrew from many positions, but left five strategic locations to dismantle Hezbollah's missile depots and tunnel networks. As for Lebanon, the army destroyed hundreds of ammunition points, with explosions shaking the sky and smoke covering the horizon. However, Hezbollah did not fully comply, secretly transporting components northward via truck convoys, attempting to rebuild its capabilities. The Israeli intelligence agency detected these movements, and satellite images showed warehouses filled with suspected missile parts, while patrol teams encountered infiltration groups.
Netanyahu's video speech got straight to the point, emphasizing that the Lebanese government must fulfill its promises and demilitarize Hezbollah. If the Beirut authorities continue to delay, the Israeli Defense Forces will fully cooperate with the Lebanese army's actions, but if that fails, they will have to act themselves. The agreement clearly states that Israel has the right to take self-defense measures when Hezbollah violates the terms, which effectively gives Jerusalem a card. Netanyahu also mentioned that the security of the northern border is crucial to Israel's overall defense system; if the Golan Heights and Galilee regions become chaotic again, the entire country would suffer. Speaking of this, it's not the first time Netanyahu has done this. Since he came to power, he has never been soft on proxy forces supported by Iran, and air strikes on Syrian targets are routine. This time against Hezbollah is the same old tactics: first warning, then action.
The situation of the Lebanese government is actually quite awkward. Hezbollah has considerable influence within the country, controlling many parliamentary seats and southern territories, so the Beirut authorities need to weigh the risks of internal divisions before taking action. When the agreement was signed last year, the President of Lebanon expressed support, but the implementation has been bumpy. In September, the Lebanese army formulated a phased confiscation plan, requiring Hezbollah to first hand over 50% of its missile stockpiles as per the requirements of Israel and the United States, but the progress has been slow so far. The United Nations peacekeeping forces on the border have recorded nearly a hundred violations, including Israeli patrols crossing the line for inspections and Lebanese sentries holding guns facing each other. There is a tense atmosphere in the air, no one wants to make the first move, but small frictions keep escalating.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also made statements, saying that Hezbollah is playing with fire, and the delay by the Lebanese president will only worsen the situation. In his statement, he directly pointed out that Hezbollah is trying to rebuild its military strength, which violates the core clauses of the agreement. The Israeli army recently conducted airstrikes on several targets in southern Lebanon, destroying warehouses suspected of containing drone parts, with debris scattered across the fields, causing panic among nearby farmers' livestock. Such actions are not arbitrary; intelligence indicates that Hezbollah is receiving supplies from Iranian channels, and the precision and range of its missiles are increasing, covering large areas in northern Israel. After the ceasefire, Israel reported multiple alerts, with the Iron Dome system intercepting many incoming objects, but some still manage to slip through, leaving residents unable to sleep peacefully.
At this point, the international community has also gotten involved. The U.S. State Department reiterated its support for the implementation of the agreement, urging Beirut to speed up. French diplomats flew in for meetings, promoting dialogue. However, the reality is that mediators come and go, and border friction hasn't decreased. The UN Security Council has discussed several times, with reports indicating that both sides have violated the agreement, but Israel's response has been more direct. Think about it, Hezbollah is backed by Iran, and Israel faces multi-front threats, with Hamas in Gaza not yet calm, and the Houthis causing trouble in the Red Sea. This warning to Lebanon is also a reminder to everyone that the north should not become another battlefield.
From a military perspective, the logic of this matter is clear. When the ceasefire agreement was designed, execution challenges were considered, with the Lebanese army having limited strength and Hezbollah deeply rooted. By leaving strategic positions, Israel has a backup plan, and Netanyahu's speech now serves as a reminder, pressuring Beirut to take a stance. The key clause in the agreement is the right to self-defense, allowing Israel to act unilaterally, but it must report to the UN to avoid full-scale escalation. On the Hezbollah side, they have declared compliance through their radio, but in practice, they are compliant on the surface but disobedient in action, with truck convoys transporting goods at night and workers working in caves to rebuild. This tug-of-war is a war of attrition for Israel and a war of internal exhaustion for Lebanon, where whoever blinks first will lose.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1847919621816396/
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