Hezbollah in Trouble
Israel Pounds Hezbollah Targets in Southern Lebanon After U.S. Greenlights Operation
Breaking: IDF Unleashes Wave of Strikes in Lebanon for First Time Since Tabatabai's Elimination
In a dramatic escalation, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a series of intense airstrikes across Lebanon on Thursday, the first such operation since the targeted killing of senior Hezbollah commander Ali Tabatabai on Sunday.
The IDF hit weapons storage facilities, military positions, and rocket-launch sites located south of the Litani River.
i24's reporter Yinon Yatach added, "The Israeli Air Force carried out strikes moments ago on seven targets within the “Village Pentagon” area in northern Samaria. The targets included open areas, caves, and strategic hideouts frequently used by terrorists in the region.
The strikes follow a series of recent shooting incidents and the elimination of wanted suspects who had fled into cave networks in the area."
The strikes come amid Hezbollah's refusal to comply with an agreement requiring the terror group to disarm and hand over its weapons to the Lebanese government, and they are part of ongoing efforts to degrade Hezbollah’s military infrastructure and disrupt attack capabilities along the northern front.
Immediately following Tabatabai's elimination, Hezbollah's de facto chief of staff, the organization vowed a harsh response. In a concerning development, French sources with ties to Hezbollah indicate the group has a plan to retaliate, potentially catching Israel off guard. However, insiders suggest Hezbollah may opt for a "diplomatic" approach rather than military action, despite the severe blow dealt by Israel. Reports indicate that despite the significant hit to Hezbollah's leadership, the group is not expected to respond with fire.
This marks a potential shift, as Hezbollah grapples with internal and external pressures.
Open Source Intel reported:
Lebanon’s Al Akhbar, closely aligned with Hezbollah, reports that Egypt’s foreign minister arrived in Beirut with a blunt message. He pressed Lebanese leaders on full disarmament south of the Litani, the start of disarmament north of it, a halt to all hostile activity against Israel, and a push to move into direct talks with Israel in Cairo under Saudi and American oversight.
He also delivered a stark warning. According to the paper, he told senior officials that an Israeli escalation before year’s end is all but certain and that “there are no limits to what Israel might do.” He repeated the same alert to Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Salam, stressing that Lebanon could face a sudden and rapid deterioration.
Hezbollah MP Ali Ammar dismissed the pressure outright, insisting the group’s arsenal will stay in place “as long as the Israeli enemy occupies land” and refuses to comply with international resolutions or the latest understandings tied to the war in Lebanon.
Analysts suggest that Israel will launch a broad and deadly operation against Hezbollah, possibly including a ground invasion, as soon as Pope Leo leaves Lebanon, scheduled for December 2, 2025.
The U.S. has reportedly given Israel the green light to operate against Hezbollah in Lebanon after months of dead end attempts by its envoys to get the Lebanese army to disarm Hezbollah.
Apparently, Israel only intends to invade Lebanon for a period of a few days, and are planning a skirmish and not a full-blown war.