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‘No offensive deployments by Israeli army’ on Lebanon’s border
Military analyst Elias Farhat says people are afraid of the repercussions if Netanyahu and his war cabinet decide to attack Beirut and Lebanon’s key southern cities after their emergency meeting this afternoon.
“Then Hezbollah will strike in Tel Aviv and Haifa and we’ll get a wide-scale war, not only between Lebanon and Israel but the whole region,” Farhat told Al Jazeera from Beirut.
However, Farhat said he doesn’t believe the situation will escalate that far because “Israeli isn’t prepared for it”.
“On the border, there are no offensive deployments by the Israeli army that would indicate a ground attack against Lebanon, as was the case in 2006, 1982, and 1978. So the ground forces are not prepared. But the air forces are always prepared, and we expect strikes in Lebanon and responses by Hezbollah on targets in Israel.”
Netanyahu on his way to emergency meeting to discuss Golan attack
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived back in Israel and is on his way to the Kirya, the defence ministry, where the security cabinet is convening in Tel Aviv.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s office said a plan of action will be drawn up but ultimately it is Netanyahu who is in charge and is going to decide how, when, and where he wants this done. This is what this security cabinet is going to discuss.
After the attack on Golan, the Israeli army chief of staff last night said they are preparing their “readiness” in the north and this is “a new phase” in the fighting. But this is nothing new for the Israeli military.
Since fire exchanges began back in October, this has been the policy of the Israeli military, but all signs are pointing to the fact this could be part of a larger-scale attack the Israelis are planning.
France calls for restraint after deadly strike on Majdal Shams
The French Foreign Ministry denounced the rocket attack on the Druze village in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. “France demands that everything possible be done to avoid a new military escalation and we will continue work with the relevant parties on this,” it said in a statement.
France continues to advise its citizens not to go to Lebanon, Israel, or the occupied Palestinian territory, it added.
Norway’s top diplomat warns against Israeli response to Majdal Shams attack
Norway’s Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide has said in a statement condemning the Majdal Shams attack that “an escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah could represent a turning point” in the region.
“A great responsibility rests on the leaders in the entire region. I repeat our strong call to all parties, including those who support the various sides in this conflict, to do what they can to exercise restraint and avoid this developing into a major regional war,” he said.
“An escalation now of retaliatory attacks could have consequences for the security situation in the entire Middle East,” he added.
He called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, saying that the Israeli-Hamas truce would help reduce the level of tension in the region.
Norway urges citizens to leave Lebanon
The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Beirut has warned on Facebook that “the conflict between Hezbollah in Lebanon and Israel has escalated”. “Norwegian authorities remind you of travel tips that encourage all Norwegian citizens to leave the country,” the announcement said.
“In case the situation worsens, travel options outside Lebanon may become limited. In such a situation, the Norwegian Embassy will have very limited resources to assist Norwegian citizens to leave the country.”
