Lebanon on the verge of 'dangerous, highly critical phase', report says

Lebanon is being warned by western and Arab officials about a possible Israeli escalation if the army fails to disarm Hezbollah, al-Akhbar newspaper said Thursday.

The pro-Hezbollah daily claimed that Lebanese authorities have been told that "Lebanon is on the verge of a very dangerous and highly critical phase" and that "Israel will not remain idle for long" if the Lebanese state does not implement its disarmament plan, but a western diplomat told local al-Joumhouria newspaper that he sees no signs of a wide war.

Other sources told al-Joumhouria that European diplomats have recently intervened in the recent hours in a bid to reach a political solution but that "there are until now no guarantees from any side about a cessation of Israeli attacks on Lebanon."

Under U.S. pressure and fearing an escalation of Israeli strikes, the Lebanese government moved to begin disarming Hezbollah.

As part of a ceasefire deal reached in late November, Israeli forces were to withdraw from southern Lebanon and Hezbollah was to dismantle its forces in the region, with the Lebanese army deploying in the south. The army says the almost-daily strikes are obstructing its deployment.

Lebanese officials also say Israeli attacks obstruct its efforts to get Hezbollah to disarm by giving the group a pretext to hold onto its weapons.