Escalating American Pressure and Demands to Halt the Flow of Funds to the Resistance at Any Cost

The Question for Diplomacy and Intelligence: What Is Left for Hezbollah?

Ibrahim al-Amin – Al-Akhbar

Will the ‘movie’ be replayed? This is the question that imposes itself in light of Benjamin Netanyahu’s behavior, which leaves the door open for surprises of this kind.

Last year, when he headed to New York, he carried with him his “strategic surprise” — the assassination of Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, the martyr Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah…

Opening the door to a confrontation unprecedented in Lebanon against the resistance, one that lasted more than two months and ended with an agreement that Lebanese unanimously agree was not solid enough.

But the main point is that Israel was not alone in that round.

It did not need to seek American permission for its military operations, whether in Lebanon or in Palestine.

🫶It proceeded with its plan to destroy Syrian military capabilities after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, in full alignment with American interests.

🫶The result was that Israel secured unprecedented support from the United States first, and from Western and Arab countries second, in its war against the Axis of Resistance led by Iran.

🫶This support was made clear in the war waged against Iran last June, which also came after Netanyahu’s special visit to Washington in April…

🫶When U.S. President Donald Trump announced the resumption of negotiations with Tehran.

At the time, many considered Trump’s announcement akin to pouring cold water on Netanyahu’s head. But matters later became clear, when it was revealed that a series of secret meetings had been held between Netanyahu and Trump…

Meetings that turned out to be about far more than war on Gaza or Lebanon, forming the basis of a work program that included arrangements concerning the entire region.

In the coming days, Netanyahu is scheduled to visit the United States, meet with President Trump, and deliver a speech before the United Nations.

Once again, he will put on the performance he enjoys, speaking of his army’s achievements against the “evildoers of the world.”

No one knows whether this time he will talk about the presence of weapons of mass destruction in some Arab state, as a prelude to striking it, as he has done in other arenas.

Experience suggests that Netanyahu — despite the need to account for the elements of his personality when interpreting his moves — now finds himself more than ever compelled to secure an achievement that cements his grip on power in Israel, and makes him the region’s undisputed “bully.”

What Should We Expect?

There are many issues today more important than what is happening in Lebanon. But putting the Lebanese file back on the table has become a priority for Israel.

Not because of any imminent danger that requires urgent handling, but because the failure thus far to capitalize internally on the Israeli war against Lebanon has sounded alarm bells within decision-making circles in Tel Aviv.

This issue appears to have returned strongly to the forefront of discussions within intelligence, diplomatic, and even media circles, both in Lebanon and in the entity alike.

According to a well-informed source, the matter goes back to a series of developments, the most prominent of which are:

Arab and Western parties claim to have received intelligence — some of it from Israeli sources — indicating that ✌️✌️Hezbollah is working intensively to rebuild its military capabilities and reorganize its ranks entirely, not only its civil institutions. Moreover, the measures carried out by the Lebanese army have not achieved the desired results.

Second: These parties point out that Israel has clear data on what Hezbollah is doing. It had expected the United States to ✌️succeed in persuading its allied Lebanese authorities to take operational steps paving the way for disarmament — not only south of the Litani River, but north of it as well.

The American side expressed its “disappointment” with the September 5 cabinet session — not because it failed to ✌️advance with an executive plan accompanied by a timetable for what had already been approved in the August 5 and 7 sessions…

But because Washington is deeply concerned by what U.S. envoy Tom Barrack described as the “extreme weakness” of Lebanon’s political leaders.

Fourth: Israel considers itself unconcerned with the timelines rumored to have been given by the United States to Lebanon ✌️to reach a grand settlement before the end of this year. Tel Aviv has informed all parties — including Barrack during his meeting with Netanyahu weeks ago — that it is not bound by any such arrangements. It has affirmed that it will not agree to amend the mechanism of its forces’ operations in Lebanon, will not undertake any withdrawal, will not release Lebanese prisoners… And will continue carrying out assassinations and airstrikes against what it deems legitimate targets.