BEIRUT, 07 Nov. - (ANA) - The Israeli army has claimed that it is gradually depleting Hezbollah's firepower while threatening a wide-scale offensive on Lebanon, which continues to face mounting pressure over the group's disarmament.

 

Several media reports on Wednesday suggested Israel was considering waiting until the end of November before seriously escalating its attacks on Lebanon – or launching another all-out war.

 

The end of November is when the Lebanese army is expected to end phase one of its plan to disarm Iran-backed Hezbollah and clear the area south of the Litani River specifically from all the militant group’s installations.

 

Lebanon’s government approved the army plan in early September. It seeks to gradually disarm Hezbollah across the country, starting south of the Litani which is closer to the Israeli border, before moving to other regions.

 

But Israeli threats of a renewed war have continued in recent days.

 

 

 

 

According to Israel’s Channel 13, US envoy Tom Barrack gave the Lebanese army a deadline ending at the close of November to "change the situation [in the south] regarding Hezbollah’s weapons."

 

The Maariv newspaper quoted the Israeli military as saying that any attack by Hezbollah against Israel will be met with a strong response.

 

The Israeli paper reported that the army is currently carrying out attrition warfare against Hezbollah’s capabilities, gradually wearing out the group through strikes.

 

According to the military, as cited by Maariv, the army "will carry out a wide-scale operation in Lebanon if Hezbollah crosses Israel’s red lines … We will target all of Hezbollah’s defences north of the Litani if it attacks our forces."

 

"Soon, there will be no escape from launching an operation to 'decapitate' Hezbollah," the army said.

 

 

 

 

The New Arab could not verify these reports, though many observers view the Israeli media’s warnings and US pressure as an attempt to compel Lebanon to quickly disarm Hezbollah and force it into talks with Tel Aviv.

 

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has already expressed his willingness to negotiate indirectly with Israel. But he said Israel must first halt its strikes on his country, the latest of which killed one man on Wednesday in the south Lebanon village of Borj Rahhal.

 

Israel claims its attacks are targeting Hezbollah’s fighters, weapons, and infrastructure, as it has vowed to keep the group weakened after last year’s war.

 

Aoun said Tuesday that the negotiation option with Israel was a "unifying national Lebanese choice," suggesting that Speaker Nabih Berri – a Hezbollah ally – and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam were in support of indirect talks to end the crisis.

 

But "Israel has yet to clarify its position and continues its violations," said Aoun.

 

During his meeting with the current UK Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa Hamish Falconer, Aoun called on the international community to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied territories so that Lebanon can fully restore security in the south and begin the reconstruction progress.

 

Despite Israeli allegations, Lebanon’s Defence Minister Michel Menassa on Tuesday said the disarmament process was ongoing, and his visiting Dutch counterpart, Ruben Brekelmans, commended the Lebanese army’s work in clearing the south of militant weapons.

 

Under US-brokered 27 November 2024 ceasefire, Israel must pull its forces out of south Lebanon, but it has failed to do and continues to occupy several border points.

 

Hezbollah must fully disarm, but the militant group has refused to do so before Israel ends its strikes, withdraws from Lebanese territory, and releases war prisoners.   - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/07 November 2025 - - -