Israel fears unilateral withdrawal from Lebanon will lead to similar step in Syria under US pressure

Israel fears that the Trump administration will impose a unilateral withdrawal from southern Lebanon before Hezbollah is disarmed, and that a similar move could occur in Syria. The cabinet decided to introduce multinational forces and promote bypass arrangements, while the IDF continues to destroy terrorist infrastructure in southern Lebanon.

Israel fears that the Trump administration will exert heavy political pressure and force Israel to unilaterally withdraw from southern Lebanon before the area is fully disarmed of Hezbollah weapons and terrorist infrastructure. Security officials assess that if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fails to block or soften American pressures in the Lebanese arena, the next step will be a withdrawal from Syria. The security cabinet did not withstand the pressure, and amid international pressures, it decided yesterday (Sunday) to introduce multinational forces and promote bypass arrangements that do not wait for the complete dismantling of Hamas terrorist infrastructure. The source of tension lies in the meeting of the Lebanese president at the White House with President Trump last week, following which assessments are growing that Washington may try to impose a political acceleration framework. Meanwhile, the IDF continues operational activity: in the last 24 hours, it destroyed Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in more than ten locations in southern Lebanon, and the Air Force carried out strikes in the Marj Ayoun area. Artillery fire was also reported against suspicious activity in the Shama area.