Israeli security official: Hezbollah prepared to return to war, not at Iran's request

Yedioth Ahronoth quoted a senior Israeli security official as saying that Hezbollah has prepared to return to war, viewing a potential war in Iran as an opportunity to re-enter a confrontation with Israel. The official clarified that Iran did not ask Naim Qassem to enter the war, and that the party concluded it could not continue absorbing Israeli strikes, noting that about 400 of its members have been killed since the ceasefire in November 2024. He also mentioned that the party armed itself with drones that killed 16 Israeli soldiers, and Qassem ordered the deployment of about 2,000 fighters south of the Litani. The developments raised fears of the party's incursion in the north, while the government demanded residents stay, considering their evacuation after October 7 a strategic mistake. Israel established a security belt in southern Lebanon, which faced criticism from senior officers, and the final decision may be affected by the American position.

Yedioth Ahronoth quoted a senior Israeli security official as saying that Lebanese Hezbollah has prepared to return to war, treating a potential war in Iran as an opportunity to re-enter a confrontation with Israel. The official explained that Iran did not ask Hezbollah's Secretary-General Naim Qassem to enter the war, and that the Iranian leadership realized the party's situation was complex. He added that Hezbollah concluded it could not continue absorbing Israeli strikes, noting that the Israeli army killed about 400 of the party's members since the ceasefire in Lebanon in November 2024 until the outbreak of the recent war on Iran. According to the newspaper, Hezbollah waited for the right opportunity, and when Israeli warplanes headed to Iran, it entered the war on its own initiative in an attempt to restore its lost dignity. The party also armed itself and trained on using fiber-optic drones, which resulted in the deaths of 16 Israeli soldiers and officers, and Qassem issued an order to deploy about 2,000 fighters south of the Litani River. These developments raised concerns among the Israeli security establishment and local authorities in the northern border area about the possibility of Hezbollah forces infiltrating Israeli territory and occupying towns. The Israeli government and security establishment demanded northern residents stay in their towns, considering that asking them to leave after the October 7 attack was a strategic mistake. Israel later established a security belt in southern Lebanon, in an area that became without residents and without the southern Lebanese army, while the Israeli army faces a shortage of manpower. The newspaper quoted senior army officers criticizing the establishment of the security belt, saying it may strengthen Hezbollah and return it to its former strength, and did not prevent rocket fire nor provide more than a limited solution to the infiltration risk. It also quoted Northern Command chief Rafi Milo as saying the army did not know about Hamas's plans before the October 7 attack, while the risk of Hezbollah infiltration was clear, and that the party was planning to occupy towns and carry out what he described as a "double October 7." The Israeli army currently believes it should not withdraw from the security belt without at least beginning to disarm Hezbollah, but implementing that is not in the army's hands alone. The final decision may be affected by the American position; if President Trump asks Netanyahu to withdraw, Israel will do so given its absolute attachment to Washington.