A Surprising Shift
According to the report, officials in Jerusalem and Washington have expressed cautious optimism over the unexpected efficiency shown by the new Lebanese government under Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, which has taken steps to curtail Hezbollah’s military autonomy.
Prime Minister Salam told the Journal that his administration has achieved around 80% of its disarmament targets in the south. If sustained, the move could reshape the power balance along the Israel–Lebanon border, marking a pivotal shift in a region long dominated by the Iran-backed militia.
New Era or Strategic Illusion?
Despite the announcement, Israeli defense sources remain skeptical. A senior Israeli official told Al Arabiya last week that Israel has been supplying Lebanon with precise coordinates of Hezbollah arms depots, command centers, and tunnel networks.
“If the Lebanese Army fails to act,” he said bluntly, “we strike.”
The source added that the IDF will not hesitate to act unilaterally, even beyond diplomatic limits, if Hezbollah continues to rearm. “We will not withdraw from the five strategic hilltops under our control until the threat is fully eliminated,” he stressed.
Conflicting Signals from the Ground
Although the Lebanese government claims progress, Israeli intelligence has detected opposite trends – including renewed arms smuggling, the establishment of new operational hubs, and strategic preparations by Hezbollah.
For now, the IDF continues active operations in the region, maintaining a tense readiness amid faint hopes that diplomatic efforts might bear real disarmament results.
