The US has given Israel a letter of assurance that Israel may bomb Hezbollah in Lebanon if it deems the group is violating the ceasefire deal that went into effect early Wednesday morning.
Under the deal, Hezbollah has 60 days to withdraw its heavy weapons north of the Litani River, and Israel must withdraw from southern Lebanon during that time as the Lebanese National Army will send more troops to the area to monitor the ceasefire.
A senior US official told Middle East Eye that the US letter assured Israel it could strike Hezbollah if the group reconstitutes in southern Lebanon, imports weapons, or if Israel says Hezbollah is positioning itself in a way that Israel deems is a threat.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed he reached an understanding with the US that Israel would “maintain full military freedom of action” in southern Lebanon.
“If Hezbollah violates the agreement and tries to arm itself, we will attack. If it tries to renew terrorist infrastructure near the border, we will attack. If it launches a rocket, if it digs a tunnel, if it brings in a truck with missiles, we will attack,” Netanyahu said.
Two US officials disputed Netanyahu’s portrayal of the assurances in comments to Axios, but they also confirmed that the US is giving Israel a lot of leeway.
The Axios report reads: “While it gives Israel freedom of action to respond to threats from southern Lebanon, such as preparations for a rocket attack or building of Hezbollah outposts near the border, Israel would only be able to respond to less urgent threats — like Hezbollah rebuilding military infrastructure north of the Litani River — after consultation with the US, and if the Lebanese military did not deal with the threat on its own.”
The US assurances mean the stability of the ceasefire is largely based on Netanyahu’s judgment. MEE noted that it’s unclear if the presence of members of Hezbollah’s military wing who live in southern Lebanon would be enough justification for Israel to launch a strike. It’s estimated that about 35,000 Hezbollah fighters live in the area.
It's good that the Likud finally saw the light and sued for Peace. Now is time to build a lasting and secure peace for Israelis. The Agreement requires the Likud to respect all UN resolutions. What's the chance the Likud respects the most recent UN resolution from 18.Sept ?
This binding resolution requires:
1) Likud gov't is a Apartheid regime
2) Evacuation of all Occupied Territories by 18.Spet 2025
3) Likud must pay Reparartions
https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/09/1154496
They'll waste no time violating it themselves and then maintain that they are the victims and anyone who dares to criticize their latest war crimes can expect to have their homes raided electronics confiscated and arrested under terrorism related charges by insecurity personnel who've forgotten that are under oath to protect you.
All our institutions have been compromised.
This just in;
10:56 Israeli army radio says shelling in Lebanese border towns aims at driving residents away from the “restricted area”
"GOOOOOOD MORNING VIET-LEBANON ! Time to shell ya from the Holy Land to the Litani shores ! All right. Hey, what is this "demilitarized zone"? What do they mean, "police action"? Sounds like a couple of cops in Brooklyn going, "You know, she looks pretty to me." Hey, whatever it is, I like it because it gets you on your toes better than a strong cup of cappuccino. What is a demilitarized zone? Sounds like something out of The Wizard of Oz, Oh, no, don't go in there. Oh-we-oh Hez-bollah. Oh, look, you've landed in Lebanon. You're among the worthless people now."
You are joking Uncle S., surely!
“No Donna, I’m not joking – and don’t call me Shirley.”
The source has already proven they are not to be trusted – regard the announcement as damage control so that any civilians who remain and are killed can be labelled as collateral damage then they'll claim that they warned them and are the victims in all this.
Deliberately targeting civilians = war crime.
They're concentrating on Syria again, looking like the reason why they needed the Lebanese ceasefire – Ukrainian involvement in Syria was reported by the Russians in Syria, Turkish are also involved while ISIS is active in Ukraine.
The Turkish could have shut down an oil pipeline that is part of the supply chain to Israel, but they didn't.
They're really trying to create greater Israel.
Scott Ritter just confirmed that they just violated the ceasefire
Watch for stern words from the outgoing U.S. administration……..5….4….3……..2………..1
Or stacked with dual citizens.
Or stacked with dual citizens.
Perpetual bad faith, sooo typical of Netanyahu and his Washington whores.
Typical of Washington and its Israeli ankle-biters. There's nothing the US likes better than increasing chaos and disorder in the Middle East. And Israel is happy to oblige.
Odd & fun little side fact.
The elementary school I went to in the '80s put a lot of emphasis on choir – particularly '70s folk like Cat Stevens and Former President James Taylor. Several classes would combine for it in sessions in the gym.
We always thought it was just a quirk of the teaching staff. Years later, we found out about this (link below). Evidently, there was an effort in various local schools to see if this "magic" could happen again…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Langley_Schools_Music_Project
Don't hold it against Cat Stevens for converting to Islam. He still sings for peace.
Yusuf is still great!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bwOscsBm2dk
I didn’t think uncle sapien was condemning his conversion.
I certainly don’t ! Nor against the late great Sinead “Sinbad” O’Connor when she also converted. Unfortunately something the media largely ignored in their eulogies.
Yes that woman went through a lot. She had a very good heart. I genuinely empathize with her hoping things had turned out differently.
Nice…! I used to play this song…!
Music soothes the savage soul! Can’t remember the author…
Did you like the Rare Earth Get Ready…?
Music can also England the save soul… to become MORE savage 😀
”To a hammer, everything looks like a nail!”
To a nail, everything looks like a hammer.
;-}
Israel is thirsty for the waters of the Litani River. This is a war of territorial expansion by Israel for fresh water resources. The cease-fire is temporary, at best.
Wise words from a Clever Dog!
It's a suppression rather than a ceasefire…!
They won’t be able to drink it if war continues. War pollutes.
They won’t be able to drink it if war continues. War pollutes.
Likewise Syria.
Syrian has oil, natural gas as well as other resources.
(we have been stealing Syrian oil for a while: Trump admitted as much during his first administration)
A "US brokered ceasefire" holds about as much weight as a fork holds water! Remember, Israel and the USA are on the same IMMORAL ground as partners in genocide/land grabbing!
This is the scam of the century…! No part of it makes any sense…!
This is Not a ceasefire… rather a trap for Hezbollah…! It shouldn't have been implemented in the first place…! Hezbollah should not conform and should restart its attacks and Finish Off Israel for good…!
The IDF is moving in. Perhaps a trap has been set for Israeli forces. Now if only Hezbollah can "borrow" a few S-400's from Iran………………
Iran doesn’t have S-400… It only had the modified version of S-300…!
"that Israel may bomb Hezbollah in Lebanon if it deems the group is violating the ceasefire "
and the US will believe whatever Israel says without question.
I thought a "ceasefire" was not firing on the other.
Israel alleges that Hezbollah was "moving", so it was fair game.
When the IDF moves, it is not "moving", right?
So the "non-moving" IDF can move and then shoot, right?
I am a little confused here. …………….
How U.S.-Israel-France Lie About Their War Against Lebanon
https://ericzuesse.substack.com/p/how-us-israel-france-lie-about-their
Peace
Instant Peace deal! Israel could perhaps accept the Christ!
Though, obviously, Christians fight too but not necessarily holy wars…
The non-ceasefire "ceasefire". What a joke! Pure Orwellian doublespeak.
Pulleeese! The “ceasefire” declaration was pure propaganda, probably meant to provide Netanyahu and Biden with some kind of political cover as they both spiral down into the toilet of history.
Kind of like allowing Israel to investigate their own war crimes. But why shouldn't the US trust Israel? They gave them 30 days to stop starving Palestinians (or else) and Israel said go fuck yourself by allowing 37 trucks of aid per day instead of the 350 "demanded" by the US. The US then backed off and did nothing. Now, can anyone imagine that when Israel says Hezbollah is violating the ceasefire agreement, and Israel will, that the US will doubt them? And even if they did doubt them, do you think they'd do anything about it? FUCK NO!!!
The whole thing is a huge scam orchestrated by US to benefit Israel as usual…!
It will be worse under Drumpf.
He owes Marian Adelson some credits. One hundred million.
From Middle East Eye (Nov 27)
Report on Hezbollah current situation.
Excerpts:
"How will Hezbollah reassert itself?"
“But if Hezbollah withdraws its heavy weaponry north of the Litani River, it can still station it in the Shia-majority Bekaa Valley, keeping towns in northern Israel within range of long-distance rockets.”
“Hezbollah definitely needs to reassert itself in Lebanon because it looks so weak right now, but not by opening fire on Israel. It needs to focus on Lebanese internal politics.”
"But while Hezbollah's leadership has been dealt severe blows, there is little evidence to categorically assert that it has been depleted as a fighting force. Israel's invasion of southern Lebanon has few achievements to boast."
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/shaky-lebanon-ceasefire-rests-netanyahus-restraint-and-hezbollah-firepower
Duh! This entire "ceasefire" is just another Biden PR stunt.
Worse, he's launch a larger war in Syria, with active US participation using ISIS as a US proxy. He's got Turkey moving against US in Syria, aligning with Assad, Russia, and Iran. This is a blunder on the scale of provoking the Ukraine War and authorizing Israel's crimes.
Erdogan is not "aligning" with anyone. He is a snake.
Lebanon needs antiaircraft systems. Nobody so far has been interested in sending them. But that could change. If/when it does, the entire region would change. There are more and more powers who see their own interests in such change, such as China, Turkey, and Russia. The effort needed has so far put them off, but the commitment could happen any month.
Lebanon would like to utilize what Iran might have.
The deal should have required Israel to remove its forces and heavy weapons from the Lebanese border an equal distance that Hezbollah was required to move. In any case, the language should also have been explicit in what Israel and/or Hezbollah is and isn't allowed to do. Israel, for one, has a history of making sure that treaty/agreement language is vague enough so they can do what they want anyway- why should this time be any different?
Why does anyone even pretend to negotiate with Israel. What a waste of time.
Monumental waste of time.
There is no negotiating with the USA or its subject states or Israel. This should be obvious by now. Every agreement is only a ploy. Every cease fire is a fraud.
OMG way to go uncle sam!
give Israel the OK to bomb Lebanon even through a cease-fire.
We are the learning tree for genocide and trickery.
How many treaties has the U.S. broken?
How many monstrous acts have we committed?
The Intercept: https://theintercept.com/2024/11/28/army-native-american-heritage-month/
The “mall cop” Lebanese army (that doesn’t have an air force or air defense system) will try to strong arm Hezbollah to back off while Israel continues bombing Lebanon. Don’t you just love this unity.
Many of those conscripts were probably not born yet when Israel bombed Beirut in 1982.
It was the catalyst for Hezbollah to be created.
Yes, those idiots do not get it.