Former Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister General Issam Abu Jamra stated in an interview with "Wardena" that the talk from the American administration is part of the pressure to reach a resolution. He noted that Israel is currently targeting all Lebanese territories, and there is no greater escalation expected except for the entry of combat units, which is not anticipated at this time. General Abu Jamra's comments came after numerous leaks about the possibility of Israel carrying out a large-scale military operation against Lebanon.
CNN reported that American intelligence and the White House expressed concerns about the possibility of Israel launching a ground incursion into Lebanon next spring if current diplomatic efforts fail to persuade Hezbollah to retreat from the northern border with Israel, as desired by the Israeli government. U.S. administration and intelligence officials are worried that Israel plans to conduct a ground incursion into Lebanon, which could begin late in the spring or early summer if diplomatic efforts do not succeed in prompting Hezbollah to withdraw from the northern border with Israel, according to senior administration officials familiar with the matter.
CNN indicated that while no final Israeli decision has been made, the concern within President Joe Biden's administration is strong enough that the possibility of an Israeli incursion has made its way into intelligence briefings for senior officials in the administration, according to an informed source. One senior Biden administration official stated, "We are operating under the assumption of an Israeli military operation in the coming months… not necessarily imminent in the next few weeks, but perhaps later this spring. An Israeli military operation is a clear possibility."
In recent months, the Israeli-Lebanese border has experienced violent attacks from both Israel and Hezbollah, resulting in the displacement of tens of thousands of Lebanese and Israeli residents from their homes. Israel has fired artillery and deployed fighter jets and drones to strike targets, while Hezbollah has utilized some of its arsenal of rockets and munitions.
