A close and influential source from Hezbollah revealed to the Kuwaiti newspaper "Al-Anbaa" that the party is carefully calculating its steps in response to an Israeli military target, following the Israeli airstrike on Haret Hreik in the southern suburbs of Beirut about two weeks ago, which resulted in the death of the party's highest military official, Fouad Shukr. However, the source, who has previously fought alongside Hezbollah outside Lebanon, stated that the party is cautious about falling into a trap by giving Israel a justification to attack Lebanese civilian areas, fearing the misdirection of its smart missiles, which have not been used in the field before, from their designated targets by Israeli interference.
He reiterated that Hezbollah has only targeted Israeli military objectives in the support front it opened from Lebanon since October 8, 2023, and has avoided bombing cities on the other side of the border. The influential source added that Israel is doing everything in its power to expand the war, but is met with American deterrence, which is limited to supplying it with weapons and ensuring its protection during this difficult phase.
He acknowledged that the deterrence that previously existed between Hezbollah and Israel has been undermined by Israel's initiative to bomb several Lebanese areas and Hezbollah's targets. He mentioned that Israel killed a Hezbollah member in Syria three years ago, and refrained from responding after Hezbollah killed an Israeli soldier. The situation has changed now, with Israel seeking to widen the front, while Hezbollah hesitates to pull the entire country into a comprehensive war for various reasons.
However, he asserted that Hezbollah will respond to an Israeli military target without harming civilians, and confirmed the party's readiness for a prolonged conflict with Israel, indicating that it would not be an issue if it lasted for ten years.
On the ground, it was noted that activity in the southern suburbs of Beirut is light, despite shops opening, but the movement is less than in ordinary days. Media colleagues and photographers confirmed, along with assurances from residents in the southern suburbs, that a significant portion of financially able families has left for areas deemed safer, following the assassination of Fouad Shukr. Meanwhile, many families are hesitant to leave for various reasons, reassured by Hezbollah's Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah in his recent speech.
Furthermore, a senior source revealed to "Al-Anbaa" that an offer from the Iranian side was made to the American side during meetings taking place in one of the region's capitals, indicating readiness to cease the support fronts from southern Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, in exchange for Iran refraining from retaliating against the assassination of the former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, provided that the war in Gaza stops. However, the Israeli side did not respond, while the American side requested to wait until the 15th of this month to resume negotiations regarding Gaza.
Simultaneously, political circles continue to question when the response to the assassinations carried out by Israel will occur, and whether it will take place before or after the negotiations resume next Thursday. Political circles fear that the response might disrupt the negotiations scheduled by the sponsoring countries (the United States, Egypt, and Qatar) on the 15th, which hold great hopes.
An informed source told "Al-Anbaa" that Washington is pressuring both parties to ensure successful negotiations and reach an agreement. Observers fear that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might seek to sabotage the negotiations, as past experiences suggest he typically committed massacres whenever negotiators came close to an agreement, similar to what happened the morning before last, when he bombed a school that sheltered displaced persons in Gaza, committing a massacre that shocked everyone.
The source added that the response from Lebanon is entirely separate from other fronts. The information leaked by Hezbollah indicates that its response is unrelated to the negotiations and is not tied to their timing, neither before nor after, despite its awareness of Netanyahu's intentions, who does not need any justification to strike any ceasefire agreement in Gaza, as he can find this justification at any time, whether through additional conditions he resorts to each time or through bloody airstrikes targeting civilians.
