After Crossing the 'Yellow Line'.. The Israeli Army Prepares to Target Beirut

Israeli reports on Wednesday indicated that the Israeli army has expanded its military operations inside Lebanon, crossing the 'yellow line,' with hints of possible targeting of Hezbollah militia targets in the Lebanese capital Beirut.

The Hebrew website 'Walla' quoted a senior Israeli army officer as saying that Beirut is no longer outside the scope of Israeli targeting, noting that the army will exploit any available operational opportunity in the Lebanese capital to carry out strikes against Hezbollah targets.

Despite this, the Israeli security establishment remains constrained by American pressures calling for avoiding targeting Beirut, to ensure the continuation of negotiation channels with the Lebanese government and not to undermine the existing diplomatic track.

These decisions come amid an unprecedented escalation of tension on the northern front, while a security source confirmed that the political leadership has granted the Israeli army a wider margin of movement against Hezbollah, against the backdrop of what it described as the party's clear violation of the ceasefire agreement.

The source said that Israel can no longer continue its policy of restraint towards Hezbollah attacks targeting civilians and Israeli forces.

The political leadership at this stage, according to the Hebrew website, approved a set of firm measures, in parallel with the Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir's approval of an operational plan that includes carrying out large-scale strikes.

According to the plan, the target list includes prominent figures in the party, field commanders, weapons warehouses, and operators of its drones, while sources in the defense establishment confirm that field data has changed and that any breach will be met with a firm response.

The head of the Technology and Logistics Division in the Israeli army, Major General Rami Abu Draham, also approved supplying the forces with large quantities of vehicle protection equipment, in addition to enhancing protection systems for combat and armored vehicles, facilities, and sites designated to counter Hezbollah's drones.

In the same context, a defense source reported that units of the Technology and Logistics Division in the field, according to information presented to Defense Minister Israel Katz, have intensified measures to protect forces by using additional protective networks and tools.

The green light to expand operations came after repeated warnings from the Israeli army that the policy of restraint towards Hezbollah was undermining the operational achievements made in recent months.

The continued anticipation by the political leadership of the course of negotiations between the United States and Iran also sparked a wave of criticism within the defense establishment, which sees that this approach harms the sense of security of northern residents and undermines Israel's deterrence capability against the party in Lebanon.

Erem News