Netanyahu ‘considered ending’ war in Lebanon due to mounting losses

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with senior security officials on Tuesday evening to discuss the possibility of ending the conflict in Lebanon and pursuing a political resolution, Anadolu has reported, citing Israeli media. This meeting came after a notable increase in Israeli military casualties along the Lebanese front in recent days.

According to Israel Hayom, Netanyahu convened a session with top security officials at 8pm local time (18:00 GMT), focusing on Lebanon’s northern front, upcoming operational priorities and exploring options for a political settlement to conclude the conflict.

The newspaper cited an unnamed Israeli official as saying, “The timeline for ending the war in Lebanon is approaching and is likely a matter of weeks.” However, he emphasised that, “Troops will not be withdrawn until a resolution is reached that meets Israel’s security requirements.” The US, He added, must offer full support to Israel’s ability to operate freely in Lebanon after the war.

Israel’s Channel 12 also reported that Netanyahu’s meeting took place amid security assessments suggesting that the occupation state is close to achieving its objectives on the northern front. According to the channel, security officials believe it is time to consolidate the accomplishments of the occupation army into a political settlement that would enable northern residents of Israel to return to their homes.

The channel also noted that Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer is leading negotiations with the US administration to secure a political agreement in Lebanon, aiming to implement an “accord” reached by US envoy Amos Hochstein during his recent visit to Beirut. This framework is reportedly based on UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

Channel 12, added that the proposed accord includes a revised version of the resolution, calling for a significant deployment of multinational forces in the region to prevent Hezbollah from approaching the border.

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