Israeli Army warns of limited escalation with Hezbollah despite no preparations detected

- Nevertheless, the Israeli army warns of the possibility of a limited escalation involving missile launches,

- Netanyahu informed his ministers that Trump gave him 'the green light' to attack Lebanon, claiming Hezbollah refused to disarm, according to the Broadcasting Authority

The Hebrew newspaper "Haaretz" reported on Thursday that the Israeli army has not detected any preparations by "Hezbollah" for a potential military escalation, yet the army warns of the possibility of a limited confrontation involving missile launches from Lebanon.

On Wednesday evening, the official Hebrew Broadcasting Authority stated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed his ministers that US President Donald Trump had given him "the green light" to attack Lebanon, claiming that "Hezbollah" refused to disarm.

"Haaretz" quoted unnamed Israeli security sources: "Reports in recent days have not detected the deployment of Hezbollah militants in Lebanon in preparation for a possible confrontation with Israel."

It added: "Nevertheless, the army emphasizes that even in the absence of indicators of immediate action, there could be a limited but continuous escalation, whereby Hezbollah launches a limited number of missiles daily."

It continued: "In the event of renewed hostilities, the Israeli army estimates that the organization is still capable of causing prolonged paralysis in the north of the country (settlements) and inflicting widespread damage on the home front."

According to military assessments, "Hezbollah" is suffering from "a deep economic crisis, increasing political pressure, and local and international demands for its disarmament, and therefore the Israeli army says that the party is trying to maintain its image as a deterrent force," according to the newspaper.

It added that "the Israeli military establishment realizes that Hezbollah is likely to respond militarily to one of the Israeli army's actions, even if it is not interested in a wide-scale escalation."

Security sources say that "such a scenario could quickly turn into a major conflict that does not serve the interests of either party," according to the newspaper.

In October 2023, Israel began an aggression against Lebanon, which it turned into a full-scale war in September 2024, killing more than 4,000 people and injuring about 17,000 others.

Since a ceasefire agreement between "Hezbollah" and Israel came into effect on November 27, 2024, the latter and its ally the United States have been pressuring the party to dismantle its weapons, which it refuses.

The newspaper continued: "Although assessments focus on (the possibility of carrying out) a relatively limited (military) operation, the military establishment fears that it could lead to severe consequences for the northern communities (settlements)."

It explained: "The repeated evacuation of residents, according to the army, could turn into a step whose consequences are difficult to predict, especially since many residents of the north, especially from (the settlement of) Kiryat Shmona, have not returned to their homes" since the last war.

On a daily basis, Israel violates the agreement by launching raids on Lebanese areas, especially in the south, resulting in hundreds of deaths, in addition to widespread destruction.

In defiance of the agreement, Israel continues to occupy 5 Lebanese hills it seized in the last war, in addition to other Lebanese areas it has occupied for decades.

The newspaper pointed out that "another option the military establishment is preparing for is to re-enter Lebanese territory with large forces."

It added: "But according to security sources' assessments, the possibility of this large-scale move remains low at the current stage."

And "the organization (Hezbollah) currently possesses a vast military arsenal that includes tens of thousands of missiles of various ranges, drones, and other weapons," according to the newspaper.

It added: "The Israeli army admits that in some places, especially north of the Litani River, the organization is succeeding in rehabilitating some of its capabilities."

Israel claims that the Lebanese army is not disarming "Hezbollah" south of the Litani River as it had expected.

On Thursday, the Lebanese army announced that its plan to confine weapons to the state had achieved the goals of its first phase, and had entered an "advanced stage," but Israel's aggressions and its occupation of Lebanese sites "negatively affect" its completion.

On August 5, 2025, the Lebanese government approved confining weapons to the state, including those possessed by "Hezbollah," and then the army developed a 5-stage plan to implement the decision.

"Hezbollah" clings to its weapons, and emphasizes that it is a "resistance" movement against the occupation, and calls for an end to Israel's aggression against Lebanon and its withdrawal from its occupied territories.

In addition to these Lebanese territories, Israel occupies Palestine and Syrian territories, and refuses to withdraw and establish an independent Palestinian state.