💥 IDF OPERATIONS IN SOUTHERN LEBANON: Troops from the IDF’s 401st Brigade, operating under the 91st Division, located and dismantled a Hezbollah rocket launcher in southern Lebanon that had been used to fire rockets toward Israeli territory.
During the operation, forces struck and eliminated a Hezbollah operative in the area who was involved in terrorist activity and in launching fire toward Israel.
⚠️ EVACUATION WARNINGS AND STRIKES ON HEZBOLLAH-LINKED INFRASTRUCTURE: The IDF spokesperson in Arabic issued evacuation warnings for several buildings in Mazraat al-Aaqbiya in the Sidon district ahead of planned strikes.
Lebanese media reported that an Israeli airstrike hit a building belonging to the Hezbollah-linked Al-Qard al-Hasan association in Aaqbiyeh after the IDF had warned it would target branches of the organization, which Hezbollah uses as a quasi-bank.
The IDF also issued a broad evacuation warning for the village of Ansariya, just south of Aaqbiyeh.
“The activities of the Hezbollah terror organization are forcing the IDF to act against it with force. The IDF does not intend to harm you,” said army spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee.
“For your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately and move away from the village to a distance of no less than 1000 meters,” he said.
⚔️ CEASEFIRE CONTACTS AND ISRAELI DELIBERATIONS: A report says Hezbollah has initiated preliminary feelers for ceasefire negotiations.
Discussions are underway in Israel on whether to launch a broad operation to eliminate the organization or seek a strategic gain by severing the connection between Iran and Hezbollah, which Iran has financed at a rate of one billion dollars per year.
In parallel, the cabinet is expected to discuss a ground operation aimed at expanding the security zone in Lebanon.
Hezbollah has also pledged allegiance to the new Iranian Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.
U.S. and Israeli officials also told Axios that the Lebanese government contacted U.S. ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack last week and asked him to mediate with Israel.
“The Israeli government has categorically refused to communicate about Lebanon, indicating that the time has passed”.
▪️ LEBANESE LEADERSHIP RESPONDS: Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said: “We are not seeking a confrontation with Hezbollah, but we will not succumb to blackmail”.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said: “Israeli attacks on the southern suburbs, the south, and the Beqaa will not achieve what Israel aims for”.
He also said: “We call for direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel under international supervision”.
“There is an attempt to squeeze Lebanon between an Israeli aggression and an armed group outside the state that does not value the country's interests,” Aoun said.
❗️ ISRAELI SECURITY ASSESSMENTS: Israeli security services informed Prime Minister Netanyahu that Hezbollah will direct its attacks toward key facilities in Israel, according to Channel 12.
A senior Israeli official told the Washington Post: “We are concerned that Netanyahu might order a large-scale ground operation in Lebanon, and we don't want to be dragged into a quagmire”.
Israeli officials told the Broadcasting Authority: “Israel is interested in expanding the buffer zone in southern Lebanon and the matter is being discussed with Washington. Action in Lebanon is inevitable”.
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