DUBAI, March 25. /TASS/. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will continue its attacks on Lebanese soil in order to put pressure on Beirut in an attempt to lure the Arab country into normalizing relations, the UAE-based newspaper The National reported, citing sources.
Under a bilateral ceasefire agreement mediated by the United States, France, and the United Nations on November 27, 2024, Israel was to withdraw its troops from Lebanon by February 18, 2025, while Hezbollah was supposed to depart from southern Lebanon. However, Israeli military commanders said they would continue to hold five strategic positions on the hills above Lebanese border areas. Lebanon has repeatedly accused the Jewish state of violating the ceasefire by delivering strikes, while Israel has reported provocations from Hezbollah.
A senior Lebanese military source shared his country expects more strikes from the IDF which he said will likely remain in the five strategic positions until Israel coerces Lebanon into normalizing ties. A US official told The National that the Israeli idea is to intensify pressure on the Lebanese government to push it toward a peace agreement with Israel. "It’s a long-game, steady-state approach," the US official said.
Lebanon itself does not seek to normalize relations with Israel with which it currently maintains no diplomatic relations, as a large number of issues relating to the border and economic zones remain unresolved. While the two sides agreed earlier this month to discuss delineating the border, these talks will be strictly military and mediated by the US, France, and the UN, a Lebanese security source stated.
A French special envoy is expected to arrive in Beirut on Wednesday after which Lebanese President Joseph Aoun will leave for Paris on March 28.
A representative of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) told The National that since the latest ceasefire deal in November, more than 1,600 air violations and over 600 rocket or missile launches from Israel have been recorded, as well as about 20 air strikes on Lebanese border areas.