Israeli official threatens to hit Hezbollah officials in 'Beirut' if operational opportunity arises

Israel intends to intensify its attacks on Hezbollah, Israel's Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said Monday, as an Israeli security official insisted that, "contrary to the impression" that Israel’s hands are tied, “Hezbollah will be hit in places it did not think" Israel would reach.

"The Americans may be bothered when we strike in Beirut, but they are less bothered in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah will feel that soon. And if there is an operational opportunity, we will hit its senior officials in Beirut as well," the official told Yedioth Ahronoth.

Israel uses the term Beirut to refer to both the capital and its southern suburbs.

Israel and Lebanon are continuing U.S.-mediated talks, but Israeli officials believe the process is going nowhere.

“There is nothing real there,” an Israeli official said.

“The Lebanese government does not want to and cannot disarm Hezbollah. But the talks continue in order to ‘drive Hezbollah crazy,’” the official told the newspaper.

Lebanese reports said a third meeting is expected this week, on Wednesday or Thursday, in Washington between Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter and his Lebanese counterpart, Nada Hamadeh Moawad. Israel has not confirmed the report.

According to an Israeli official, the Israeli army has thinned out its forces in southern Lebanon, where two divisions are now operating — one on defense and one on offense. Still, an Israeli official warned: “This situation will not last much longer. Hezbollah will pay a heavy price for ceasefire violations. For now, we are giving negotiations a chance.”