As a draft for the renewal of the international peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon, "UNIFIL," is being finalized, and as the Security Council prepares to hold a session to discuss the implementation of Resolution 1701, Hezbollah is establishing a completely different equation by releasing the second part of a video featuring a hoopoe, filmed by a drone belonging to the party inside Israel, according to "Al-Mudun." This new video contains sensitive Israeli sites within the occupied Golan Heights. The message Hezbollah sought to convey is that in response to Israeli and international pressures to withdraw from south of the Litani River, it has demonstrated its capacity to reach the Golan, which contradicts longstanding Israeli plans calling for the Iranians to withdraw from southern Syria by 40 to 80 kilometers.
The release of the video is part of Hezbollah's response to ongoing Israeli threats regarding the initiation of a significant military campaign against Lebanon. It is also a reply to calls for its withdrawal from south of the Litani River and Israeli threats to create a security belt for Israel in southern Lebanon. Amid these developments, and with ongoing confrontations between Hezbollah and Israelis extending towards Syria, including an Israeli strike on a vehicle on the Beirut-Damascus road that resulted in the martyrdom of two Hezbollah members, political solutions appear distant, with expectations from Hezbollah regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continuing to hinder and obstruct negotiations, thereby prolonging the war of attrition.
Simultaneously, diplomatic sources revealed that the draft renewal for the international peacekeeping forces in the south has been completed. It will be submitted to the United Nations Secretariat in the coming days. It should be noted that a session to discuss Resolution 1701 is set for July 24, the same day Prime Minister Netanyahu will be in the United States, delivering a speech before Congress as he seeks support to expand or escalate military operations against Lebanon.
In this context, UNIFIL Commander Arlo Ludo Lazaro has been visiting officials, particularly Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and Army Commander Joseph Aoun, to brief them on developments in the south, review the situation along the Blue Line, and discuss cooperation between the army and international forces in implementing UN Resolution 1701.
This coincided with a visit to Israel by the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Janine Hennis-Plasschaert, where she discussed with officials there ways to reduce escalation, return to the implementation of the international resolution, and establish calm. Since taking office, Plasschaert has been in intensive contact with Lebanese leaders and relevant parties to explore ways to halt the escalation along the Blue Line. Her visit to Israel is a precursor to a scheduled consultation session by the Security Council on the implementation of Resolution 1701. Reports indicate that Plasschaert focused her discussions with Israeli officials on the need to restore calm and allow for a diplomatic solution, which would enable displaced civilians from both sides to return to their homes, in addition to addressing outstanding issues in Resolution 1701.
In this context, diplomatic sources note that the format adopted in the UNIFIL renewal draft is the same as that used last year, and no requests have been advanced by any country to amend this text or to modify or expand the powers of international forces. However, the sources express concern that a request for modification may arise later, potentially negatively influencing the session's proceedings and complicating the decision-making process, according to "Al-Mudun."
