The widespread military escalation that preceded and followed the round of Lebanese-Israeli military negotiations in the Pentagon, under American auspices, last Friday, was not a surprise to observers, but the scale and breadth of the operations exceeded most estimates, raising increasing questions about whether the situation on the ground is heading towards a path that is difficult to contain or retreat from in the foreseeable future.
As the Israeli ground incursions deepened into unprecedented areas in southern Lebanon, and fears rose about the advance towards the city of Nabatieh and Beaufort Castle, indications emerged of an attempt to impose new field realities that may be reflected in the course of political and diplomatic negotiations.
On the other hand, observers believe that Hezbollah, despite maintaining its missile capabilities and continuing to launch attack drones, has not yet been able to achieve effective deterrence that would stop the Israeli advance or prevent the expansion of military operations beyond the Litani River and reach areas in the Western Bekaa.
Politically, criticism directed at the party is escalating against the backdrop of its positions towards the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, and the political forces opposed to its choices, amid accusations that it contributed to dragging Lebanon into a war that left widespread destruction, displacement, and great burdens on the country.
In this context, the speech addressed by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to the Lebanese gained special importance, as he condemned the Israeli policy based on widespread destruction and forced displacement, stressing at the same time the state’s adherence to the option of negotiations as the least costly path for Lebanon, despite the lack of prior guarantees of its success.
Salam said that what is happening is no longer limited to expanding the scope of military operations or bypassing the Litani River, but rather it has become a policy of systematic destruction of cities, towns and vital structures, and mass displacement operations affecting civilians.
He stressed that the Lebanese state will continue its efforts to reach a ceasefire, achieve a complete Israeli withdrawal, release prisoners, secure the return of the people to their areas and launch the reconstruction process.
He stressed that war was not Lebanon’s choice, and that its human and economic costs had become very high, which prompted the government to adopt the negotiation option as the least harmful alternative compared to the other options currently available.
He explained that the negotiations are not surrender, and that the Lebanese delegation’s priorities are a ceasefire, then complete withdrawal, the release of prisoners, creating conditions for the return of the population, and rebuilding what was destroyed by the war.
He also called for unifying the Lebanese position under the roof of the state, considering that the management of the war and peace file must be exclusively in the hands of Lebanese legitimate institutions, far from any external decisions or accounts.
In parallel, the President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, held a meeting with the Prime Minister at Baabda Palace to discuss security and field developments, especially the continuation of Israeli operations and their expansion to include several areas in the Tire and Nabatieh districts, in addition to the destruction and bulldozing operations that affected homes and historical monuments.
The two sides agreed to intensify political and diplomatic contacts to stop the escalation. They also touched on the results of the military meeting held in Washington between the Lebanese, American and Israeli delegations, where the Lebanese delegation adhered to the priority of consolidating the ceasefire.
The research also dealt with preparations for the new round of negotiations scheduled in Washington on June 2 and 3, in addition to following up on the conditions of the displaced people who were forced to leave their homes and property due to the battles.
In this context, attention is turning to the fourth round of anticipated diplomatic talks, as information reported that a coordination meeting was held at the Lebanese Embassy in Washington between the Lebanese diplomatic and military delegations, headed by Ambassador Simon Karam and Ambassador Nada Hamada Moawad, was devoted to evaluating the results of the first military round hosted by the Pentagon.
According to the data, the discussions dealt with mechanisms for monitoring the ceasefire in the event of reaching an agreement, in addition to researching the areas in which the Lebanese army will deploy after any possible Israeli withdrawal.
Informed sources also indicated that additional security and military talks will be held during the next phase, in light of American insistence on completing this path, as it is essential for moving political negotiations forward, especially with regard to the issue of restricting weapons to the state.
According to information from American sources, the Israeli delegation focused during the meetings on disarmament mechanisms, the party that will carry out this mission, and the timetable associated with it, while the Lebanese delegation insisted on linking any security progress to stopping Israeli military operations first.
In the same context, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported that Israel rejects the Lebanese army’s demand for immediate withdrawal within the framework of efforts to address the weapons issue, stressing that the ongoing operations in southern Lebanon aim, according to the Israeli narrative, to remove what it considers missile threats directed towards the Galilee settlements, especially in the areas north of the Litani River.
The authority added that the current operation is not the first of its kind, as the Israeli army had previously carried out a similar operation about two months ago, but it stopped at that time after being exposed to ambushes carried out by Hezbollah.
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