Israel prepares to neutralize Hezbollah as ceasefire collapses, exposing Lebanese weakness and regional Islamist threat.
Israel is reportedly considering a targeted military operation in Lebanon to eliminate the growing threat posed by Hezbollah, according to a Friday report by Kan 11 News, citing senior sources familiar with the discussions.
The report said Benjamin Netanyahu raised the possibility of expanding Israeli action in Lebanon during a recent meeting in Florida with U.S. President Donald Trump. The talks focused on Hezbollah’s continued violations of a U.S.-backed ceasefire and its refusal to disarm as required.
Under the ceasefire framework, Hezbollah was obligated to dismantle its armed presence south of the Litani River, directly threatening northern Israel. However, despite formal commitments, the terror group has openly defied the agreement, rebuilt capabilities, and reasserted control—while the Lebanese Armed Forces remain unable or unwilling to enforce state authority.
Lebanon’s government had instructed the army in August to present a plan ensuring a state monopoly on weapons by year’s end. Hezbollah swiftly rejected the move, vowing to retain its arsenal—confirming Israel’s long-standing assessment that Beirut lacks sovereignty and that Hezbollah, backed by Iran, dictates reality on the ground.
Israeli officials reportedly assess that Hezbollah has exploited the ceasefire to recover operational strength, stockpile weapons, and prepare future attacks. From Jerusalem’s perspective, allowing this trajectory to continue would repeat past mistakes—placing Israeli civilians at unacceptable risk.
Sources said the Trump administration has not ruled out Israeli action against Hezbollah, though Netanyahu was encouraged to allow additional diplomatic engagement with Lebanese authorities before making a final decision.
For Israel, patience has limits. When Arab governments fail to confront jihadist militias within their borders, Israel reserves the right—and responsibility—to defend its people decisively.
