Ahead of elections: Lebanese president enlists Americans to curb Netanyahu

A report in the pro-Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, citing a Lebanese political source, says that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun received American guarantees that the US will not give Netanyahu a green light to expand the security zone in southern Lebanon. Beirut fears Netanyahu will exploit a military move to strengthen his position ahead of the Knesset elections. In return, Hezbollah is required to refrain from actions that would provide Israel with a pretext for expansion.

A report in the pro-Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, citing a Lebanese political source directly involved in the negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, reveals that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun received guarantees from the United States that the American administration will not give Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a green light to expand the security zone in southern Lebanon. According to the report, Aoun maintains contacts with senior American officials in order to pressure Netanyahu and prevent him from expanding the security zone. In Lebanon, there are fears that the prime minister may exploit a military move as a political lever ahead of the Knesset elections, in an attempt to strengthen his chances of winning. The American guarantees were given on condition that Hezbollah refrains from actions that would provide Israel with a pretext to expand its military activity toward the ridges between the Al-Tuffah area and Jabal al-Rihan in southern Lebanon. According to the source, the terrorist organization Hezbollah conveyed a message to the Lebanese president through Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, stating that the organization is still committed to the ceasefire and refrains from responding to Israeli attacks.