For the second time in a week… Israel strikes a Hezbollah training camp in Lebanon
For the second time in a week, the Israeli army announced on Friday that it had targeted a Hezbollah training camp in southern Lebanon.
The army stated that it “conducted an airstrike on a training complex used by Hezbollah’s Radwan Unit for training and preparing its members.”
It also noted that another Hezbollah training complex had been targeted earlier in the week.
According to the statement, the training conducted for the unit members included shooting drills and exercises using various types of weapons.
The army explained that the purpose of these trainings was to “plan and execute operations against Israel,” which constitutes a violation of the agreement reached between the two parties last year.
As part of the airstrikes, additional Hezbollah military infrastructure was also targeted in several areas of southern Lebanon.
Rising Tensions
This strike comes at a time when tensions between Israel and Lebanon are escalating, with the deadline set by the United States for resolving the Hezbollah arms issue approaching.
Israeli media had previously reported that the U.S. administration had set a deadline of December 31 for the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah.
Israel warns that Hezbollah is rebuilding its military capabilities, hinting at the possibility of a large-scale military operation as the date for U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision draws near.
Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported, “The Israeli army has prepared plans for intensified attacks in Lebanon aimed at disarming Hezbollah, including air maneuvers that took place last week.”
However, Yediot Aharonot states that Israel “is holding off on any major steps, waiting for approval from the person considered to have the final say, President Donald Trump, who does not want an escalation to jeopardize the regional peace he is promoting.”
The same newspaper noted that the United States had asked Israel to give Lebanon more time to complete the disarmament south of the Litani River.
It added that “Washington informed Beirut that if no action was taken now, Israel would be able to act unilaterally.”
Lebanese President Michel Aoun confirmed last Friday, before a delegation from the UN Security Council, that his country “does not want war” with Israel, following the initiation of direct talks with the Jewish state. He emphasized that there would be “no turning back” on the decision to limit arms to the Lebanese army.
Amid concerns over an Israeli escalation of operations in Lebanon, one year after the ceasefire with Hezbollah, a Lebanese civilian and an Israeli civilian joined the committee tasked with monitoring the implementation of the agreement, during the first direct meeting in decades.
Aoun stressed that “the Lebanese army will fully perform its role, and the international community must support it,” adding that the centralization of weapons in the hands of the Lebanese army “is a fundamental goal. We are determined to achieve it and have asked all parties to cooperate to reach this irreversible goal, even if it requires some time.”
