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Sunday, 16 August 2026dailybeirut.com
Lebanon
A senior security official told Al-Nahar that Israel is preparing to launch a battle to occupy the Ali al-Taher hills, awaiting the American green light. The U.S. has informed Lebanese authorities it cannot fully prevent Israeli action but urged a surgical operation minimizing explosions and civilian fear, without undermining the framework agreement.
A senior security official told Al-Nahar that messages have reached relevant parties in Lebanon indicating Israel is preparing to fight to occupy the Ali al-Taher hills and is now highly ready, awaiting the American signal. The official revealed that the American side, in turn, informed the Lebanese authority that it would not be able to completely prevent Israeli action, but requested that any operation be precise, minimizing explosions and civilian distress, and avoiding any move that undermines the framework agreement.
The source added, "The Israeli side needs this achievement and will not back down," noting that "the focus is on Hezbollah's reaction: will it engage in a decisive confrontation or handle the situation in a way that does not give the enemy justification for launching a large-scale offensive and triggering another wave of village and town displacements?" The source believed "this battle has become a matter of time, racing against the imminent Iran-U.S. agreement, which will undoubtedly have a direct impact on the southern front."
