Lead:
Israeli military operations expanded significantly across southern Lebanon on Thursday, with strikes recorded in Nabatieh, Sidon, Tyre, Deir al-Zahrani, and the Bekaa Valley. The escalation comes amid a widening diplomatic impasse, with a Lebanese diplomatic source accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of deliberately prolonging the conflict through the Israeli electoral calendar, while Washington's next mediation round approaches with no sign of breakthrough.
Details:
A Lebanese diplomatic source cited by Al Jazeera stated that Netanyahu has shown no genuine willingness to negotiate, treating the existing diplomatic track as an obligation imposed upon him rather than a chosen path. The source suggested the Israeli prime minister is inclined to sustain military operations in Lebanon until Israeli elections, a characterization that casts serious doubt on the prospects of any near-term ceasefire arrangement.
On the ground, Al-Diyar and Al-Joumhouria reported that an Israeli drone struck a residential building in the Maqasid district of Nabatieh in the early morning hours, igniting fires in the structure and several parked vehicles. Artillery shelling was also reported in villages across the Nabatieh district. Al-Manar's correspondent further reported Israeli artillery targeting the town of Dirntar, while Israeli Channel 12 confirmed an Israeli Air Force strike in the Bekaa region in eastern Lebanon. Annahar noted that Israeli strikes on Nabatieh and Tyre are placing increasing pressure on the American-led plan for southern Lebanon, complicating discussions around Israeli withdrawal, Lebanese Army deployment, and the status of contested areas.
On the political front, Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raji, quoted by Al-Joumhouria, described Hezbollah as Iran's illegitimate armed instrument and stated that the party's weapons have lost both their justification and utility. Raji argued that diplomatic engagement is a more effective instrument than armed resistance. A source close to Hezbollah, cited by Al-Diyar, separately confirmed that the party's ministers have no intention of leaving the Lebanese government, even as internal tensions over direct negotiations with Israel persist. Annahar raised questions over parliamentary immunity limits following an escalating verbal assault on President Joseph Aoun by Hezbollah MP Ihab Hamadeh.
In a related regional development, Al-Diyar reported that Saudi Arabia is actively working to prevent any Syrian military intervention in Lebanon, following signals from Washington regarding a possible Syrian role in addressing the Hezbollah issue. Saudi Arabia's decision to resume imports of Lebanese agricultural products drew warm official responses from President Aoun and Prime Minister Miqati.
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