According to well respected and prominent journalist Roi Kais, the Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar reported this morning that the UN office in Lebanon has instructed international and humanitarian organizations to activate emergency-response programs amid growing concerns of a potential war in the country.
According to the paper, the UN’s request is based on security and intelligence assessments warning that a new conflict could trigger the displacement of up to one million Lebanese from southern Lebanon, the Beqaa Valley, and Beirut’s Dahieh district.
The reported assessments foresee the possibility of:
- Intensive Israeli aerial strikes aimed at driving mass evacuations from key Hezbollah strongholds.
- Assassinations and strikes in areas that have so far been spared, including sites linked to the Lebanese government.
- Potential Israeli ground operations, not only in southern Lebanon but extending into the Beqaa Valley.
These warnings and preparatory notices were reportedly delivered to humanitarian agencies in November.
Lebanon is correct to be afraid. The U.S. has had more than enough of the Lebanese army 'dismantling' Hezbollah's terror infrastructure and disarming them. Even if they wanted to, they lack the basic resources they need.
At the same time, Hezbollah has rebuilt impressively, despite the shocking beeper attacks. They have also received a massive influx of money from Iran.
Israel has to make a choice about when and how to respond to this, but for anyone following the situation, it's clear that a decisive response is coming.
