Situation Worsens — Israel's Necessary Step in Lebanon

Military commentator for Maariv, Avi Ashkenazi, stated that Iran is testing Israel's reaction through Hezbollah, and called the failure to destroy tunnels in Lebanon a mistake. He urged increasing pressure on militants in the tunnels and eliminating them.

Military commentator for Maariv, Avi Ashkenazi, said in an interview with 103FM radio that the situation on the northern front is becoming more complex. According to him, after the ceasefire, Iran instructed Hezbollah to refrain from attacking the IDF, but in recent days Tehran has been trying to weaken this directive, testing Israel's reaction. Ashkenazi criticized the decision not to destroy some tunnels in Lebanon, calling it a mistake caused by Iranian pressure on the US and American pressure on Israel. He noted that one tunnel contains 30–40 Hezbollah militants who are on the brink, and in the coming days they will try to increase pressure. Ashkenazi called on the IDF to act more decisively: increase pressure on the militants, force them to surrender or eliminate them, and destroy the tunnels. He also stated that the US is not interested in expanding the conflict involving Israel, and if Iran does not strike Israeli territory, Israel will not be involved.