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TEHRAN- Israel appears to be making a cock-and-bull story to prolong its occupation of southern Lebanon.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Israeli media has revealed that the regime is considering the option of keeping its forces in southern Lebanon following the conclusion of a two-month ceasefire agreement reached with Hezbollah in late November.<\/p>\n
According to Israel Hayom, senior political and military officials have engaged in multiple discussions in recent days concerning the possibility of an extension.<\/p>\n
Israeli officials have cited an alleged slow deployment by the Lebanese army in the south, and the \u201cabundance of Hezbollah\u2019s weapons and infrastructure that are still exposed in the field\u201d.<\/p>\n
Israel and Lebanon began trading cross-border fire on October 8, 2023. That was a day after Israel initiated its genocidal war on Gaza. The Lebanese resistance movement struck Israel’s strategic and military sites with drones and missiles in a show of solidarity with Palestinians in the enclave.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On September 23 this year, Israel launched a massive bombing campaign in Lebanon and a week later sent its troops into southern Lebanon. The Israeli army has killed about 4,000 people in Lebanon since October last year. But in the wake of Israel\u2019s failure to achieve its military goals, it had to sign a ceasefire with Hezbollah on November 27.<\/p>\n
Based on the agreement, which would take 60 days, Israeli troops should\u00a0withdraw from southern Lebanon, and Hezbollah pull back north of the Litani River,\u00a0ending its presence in the south. The Lebanese army would deploy to the south to monitor the ceasefire.<\/p>\n
Reports say Israel has violated the ceasefire agreement, that was brokered by the United States and France, more than 300 times since it went into effect.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hezbollah has said Israeli breaches of the ceasefire include deadly airstrikes across Lebanon, shooting at civilians in the south, and flying drones and jets in Lebanese airspace, including over Beirut.<\/p>\n
The Lebanese army has consistently denounced the Israeli military for deadly assaults in southern Lebanon, citing ongoing breaches of the ceasefire.<\/p>\n
Lebanon\u2019s National News Agency (NNA) said Israeli strikes continued on southern Lebanese towns and villages on Saturday night, in violation of the truce.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It noted that the attacks included \u201cviolent bombing operation\u201d on areas between the towns of Markaba and Rab Thalathine in the Marjayoun district. Citing the Lebanese army, the NNA further said Israeli forces also invaded Qantara and Taybeh and burned a number of homes there.<\/p>\n
Israel is not only seeking to maintain its occupation of Lebanon but is also attempting to extend its control over the Gaza Strip. Additionally, in Syria, the regime continues to occupy regions beyond the Golan Heights.<\/p>\n
The occupation of additional lands in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria is in line with Israel\u2019s dreams of establishing a \u201cGreater Israel\u201d. \u00a0<\/p>\n
According to proponents of “Greater Israel”, the sinister scheme refers to the notion of extending Israel’s occupation and sovereignty throughout the Middle East (West Asia).\u00a0<\/p>\n
Israel’s far-right Finance Minister\u00a0Bezalel Smotrich\u00a0has already advocated for the creation of a \u201cJewish state\u201d that would encompass all Palestinian territories and neighboring Arab territories.<\/p>\n
He said in October this year that this \u201cJewish state\u201d must extend into Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
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