Efforts by the US to head off an Israeli war in southern Lebanon, a conflict US military intelligence has warned Israel may be unable to handle, may be failing, as Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is telling troops the offensive will start “very soon.”
Gallant made the comments while visiting Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip, the other open-ended military offensive in which Israel has mired itself. Gallant tried to spin the Lebanon offensive as “reinforcing” the troops in the north.
His comments come after Israel’s military chief predicted the conflict in Lebanon was very likely in the coming months and after the northern military commander said that tens of thousands of troops were ready to mount an offensive.
Israel has been launching tit-for-tat strikes with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon for several months, and top Israeli politicians seem to be spoiling for yet another fight, downplaying the US military assessment that two fronts at the same time would stretch Israel dangerously thin.
Israel’s next war in Lebanon would likely be heavily reliant on airstrikes, although Hezbollah’s recent missile attacks on the strategic airbase on Mt. Meron may limit their ability to do so in large numbers. Small numbers of drone and warplane airstrikes have hit villages in southern Lebanon since the Mt. Meron attacks.
Israeli officials are presenting this war as allowing Israeli citizens to return to the northern towns near the border. These towns have been beset by rocket fire, and the residents fled toward central Israel to stay with relatives and wait out the recent fighting. Israeli military brass say the goal of an offensive in Lebanon would be to free up the area so people could return home.
Whether that is the entirety of the Israeli military goal remains to be seen, as politicians are advocating an open-ended military occupation of southern Lebanon as a way to ensure Hezbollah doesn’t retain outposts anywhere near northern Israel’s border.
Israel is said to have given the US until the end of January to reach a deal with Lebanon to avoid the war. That Gallant is making comments about the offensive “very soon” in the last two days of the month gives credence to that deadline and seems to indicate Israel is sick of waiting and eager to start the offensive formally.
The US is under Israeli control, otherwise “go phuck yourself”would be the reply to such arrogance funded by the US.
When you are drunk with power, sometimes you think, I too can take on the bouncer without any consequence.
A friend of mine did that, quite unsuccessfully. He was arrested too. The judge issued a warning not to appear in his court again for any troubles. Got off with a fine, couple of days in jail. Never did anything to bring him back in that court.
Your friend, unlike the leadership of US/Israel, has actually learned something. Bibi, Biden, et al have learned nothing.
Hezbollah has been trying very hard to avoid climbing the escalation ladder. Direct confrontation by Israel is not wise. Hezbollah has tens of thousands of rockets that can accurately hit their targets, plus the troops, the “army of G-d” will kill quite a few more IDF soldiers. It would get nasty very quickly. Imagine if Hezbollah rockets were to hit plants manufacturing bleach or chloride, which are, I have read, are quite close to Tel Aviv.
That would be great
What would be great?
Did you read that in RT News or TASS? Lol
Please tell me why are you think that hitting those factories would do such great damage? Do you know how chorine is made and stored? The person who designed those plants would keep the inventory amount of chlorine gas to a minimum and store that gas in small double walled underground tanks.
How can Israel stop short of occupying Lebanon and driving its population into Syria?
The Second Lost War…!
I WILL ACTUALLY UTILIZE A NUCLEAR IRAN TO GIVE ME ASSIST. AND YOU can TAKE THAT TO THE BLOODY Bank.
One foot into Lebanon, and YOU are no longer a Jewish STATE. It pains me to say it but YOU refuse to listen to ME AGAIN. NOT WARNING ANYMORE. END OF, END OF ISRAEL and that is not what I WANT AT ALL. I love Israel but?!
You love Israel? Lol. Imagine if you didn’t. Wow.
That’s how phony PEACE ACTIVISTS speak.