White House: Hezbollah’s Attack Was Large And Unprecedented In Scope / Resistance Greets And Bids Farewell To Occupation’s Chief Of Staff And U.S. Military With Fire

Albinaa’ Newspaper Headlines August 27, 2024

The political editor wrote

Hezbollah’s response to the assassination of senior resistance leader Fuad Shukr and the targeting of Beirut’s southern suburbs, along with its aftermath and global reactions, has become the central focus. Particularly striking are the reactions from the American and Israeli fronts, as they are most directly impacted by Hezbollah’s actions. The White House, in statements linked to the recent deployment of U.S. forces to the region, asserted that these forces were sent to deter Israel’s enemies in Iran and Hezbollah, providing full support for Israel’s defence in the event of an attack. Meanwhile, the Pentagon has consistently reported ongoing coordination with the occupying army’s leadership in preparation for expected retaliation. Yesterday, the Pentagon disclosed that it had supplied the occupying army with intelligence on Hezbollah’s response. Washington’s strategy unfolded in two key steps: first, a visit by the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff to the northern front, accompanied by the Chief of Staff of the occupying army, where they were greeted and farewelled with resistance fire – missiles and drones. Second, a White House statement acknowledged the power of Hezbollah’s response, describing it as significant and distinct from previous daily attacks.

Within the occupying entity, shock remains the predominant sentiment among its leaders, who have unanimously declared that they do not intend to go to war – despite numerous prior statements suggesting otherwise.

Previously, officials had repeatedly claimed they were open to diplomatic solutions to curb Hezbollah’s threat across the border, but they also warned that military action would be taken within a week or two if diplomacy failed. This refrain, often repeated by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, included threats to return Lebanon to the Stone Age and make Lebanon pay for not curbing Hezbollah’s power. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had emphasised that the issue of northern settlers must be resolved before the school year begins, either through diplomatic means or by launching a military operation to push Hezbollah beyond the Litani River. For the past ten months, Israeli rhetoric has centred on threats to destroy Beirut’s southern suburbs and conduct a major ground operation to push Hezbollah beyond the Litani. However, this narrative has abruptly shifted to one of avoiding war and escalation.

During his joint visit with the U.S. military leadership, the occupying army’s Chief of Staff stated that securing the settlers is their primary concern and that the confrontation with Hezbollah is ongoing, though references to war, the Litani, and the Stone Age were notably absent. Gallant was more explicit, stating that a war with Hezbollah will come, but not in the near future.

Observers have taken note of this significant shift in the occupying entity’s stance, attributing it to the impact of Hezbollah’s response and its broader implications. The situation now hinges on whether the entity will opt for containment by retreating from its aggressive posturing, or whether it will seize the opportunity to escalate into full-scale war. Given the intelligence gathered and the undisclosed revelations from Hezbollah’s response, it appears that the entity has chosen to back down, recognizing the limits of its ability to counter the resistance’s strength.