Yemen Targets U.S. Fleet, and Resistance Missiles Rain Down on Tel Aviv /  Basil: Resolution 1701 and the Defense Strategy Are Integrated…The Occupation Has Failed to Fulfil Its Obligations

 November 13, 2024

The political editor wrote

The Israeli daily Maariv reported that the occupying army has begun the “second phase of its ground operations in Lebanon” with the goal of “neutralising Hezbollah’s missile capabilities”, intending to pressure Hezbollah toward a settlement negotiation in Lebanon. Meanwhile, the U.S. news outlet Axios quoted U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein, saying, “There’s an opportunity to reach a ceasefire in Lebanon soon, and we are optimistic”. The Israeli leadership seemed torn between promoting a “critical phase” of the ground war aimed at deep penetration south of the Litani River or waiting for results from the negotiation track. Reports suggest U.S.-Israeli talks are underway, with Tel Aviv seeking secret assurances from Washington for support against Lebanon if future operations prove necessary, especially if Hezbollah rearms. Observers noted a hesitancy within Israel about embarking on an extensive ground operation due to potentially irreparable losses and loss of control.

Meanwhile, in Yemen, the Ansar Allah group announced two “significant operations” lasting eight hours in the Red and Arabian seas, targeting a U.S. aircraft carrier and two destroyers. Washington confirmed that its destroyers repelled the attack, denying any strikes on the aircraft carrier. Yemeni military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree stated that Yemeni forces conducted two operations, one targeting the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea with cruise missiles and drones, and another aimed at two destroyers in the Red Sea with ballistic missiles and drones. The operations were, he stated, a response to continued American-British aggression against Yemen and in solidarity with the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples. The Pentagon confirmed the attack, stating that missiles and drones were launched at the destroyers while they were passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and that the U.S. forces intercepted the threat.

In Lebanon, Gebran Bassil, leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, addressed the situation in the south and the status of Resolution 1701 during a press conference following a political council meeting. He emphasised that “Resolution 1701 and the defence strategy form the basis of stability but are insufficient alone. For a sustainable solution, Lebanon requires both international and domestic support to equip its army and achieve neutrality from the axes, coupled with guarantees against future Israeli attacks to secure a lasting peace”. Bassil elaborated on how Resolution 1701 and the defence strategy align, explaining that “Hezbollah halted its combat operations and any armed presence under Resolution 1701, but Israel has continued its violations”. He affirmed that Resolution 1701 imposed a certain calm along the border for 17 years in terms of halting hostilities. However, a long-term solution has not been achieved, nor has the full implementation of Resolution 1701 occurred due to Israel’s non-compliance. This led then-Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to propose transferring sovereignty over the Shebaa Farms to UNIFIL until the implementation of Resolution 242, which Israel uses as a pretext. The Lebanese government agreed to this proposal, while Israel rejected it.

Bassil praised the sacrifices of the resistance, saying, “We honour the courage and martyrdom of the young men defending Lebanon and preventing the Israeli enemy from occupying our land”. He warned that attempting to disarm the resistance through force would lead to national disunity, weaken Lebanon’s defensive capability, and invite chaos and internal strife. He condemned what he termed a “destructive project” to subjugate Lebanon, impose security control over it, plunder its sovereignty and resources, and reshape its demographic and social fabric. Yet, his political stance in face of all of this is steadfastly demanding the implementation of UN resolutions.

On the battlefield, the resistance intensified its strikes, reaching deep within Israeli territory and targeting military bases surrounding Tel Aviv, while Haifa and settlements in Galilee suffered heavy missile and drone barrages. In response, Israeli airstrikes targeted residential infrastructure in Beirut’s southern suburbs, as well as areas in Mount Lebanon, the Bekaa, and beyond.