Has the US given a disarmament deadline to the Lebanese Army?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has discussed in closed-door meetings with military leaders warnings and reports described by Israel as serious, indicating that Hezbollah is “continuing its armament and infrastructure rebuilding operations in southern Lebanon,” Israeli media reports said.
These reports also mentioned the alleged smuggling of short-range missiles from Syria, the restoration of buildings in southern Lebanon, and the deployment of local fighters to villages.
Israel's Channel 13 quoted sources close to the Israeli army as saying that the Israeli army is preparing for a multi-day round of fighting with Hezbollah.
“Israel is escalating its threats to resume bombing and hopes that pressure on the Lebanese government will lead to Hezbollah's disarmament,” the channel said.
The channel also reported that U.S. envoy Tom Barrack gave the Lebanese Army until the end of November to “make a change in the situation related to the issue of Hezbollah's weapons.”
Barrack explained that if this does not happen, Israel will be able to launch attacks and that the United States will understand its ally’s move, the channel added.
It also said that the U.S. has asked Israel not to wage major attacks in Lebanon until the end of this deadline.
A Lebanese official, however, denied in remarks to Al-Arabiya the presence of such a U.S. deadline for the army.
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz meanwhile quoted Western intelligence assessments indicating that Hezbollah has partially rebuilt its military supply network, receiving arms shipments from Iran via Iraq and Syria.
Meanwhile, Israeli intelligence allegedly confirmed detecting intensive activity by the group aimed at restoring its capabilities and strengthening its influence within Lebanon, particularly north of the Litani River.
The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation for its part warned that "no place is safe in Lebanon" if Hezbollah continues its perceived rearmament.
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