The United States has indicated that Israel may be on the verge of launching a more restricted ground incursion into southern Lebanon than initially planned. This decision follows recent discussions between the two countries over the weekend.
The proposed limited ground operation is aimed at targeting Hezbollah infrastructure near the border with Israel. Israeli special forces have reportedly conducted small-scale raids into Lebanese territory in recent days as part of their preparations for a potential ground offensive.
These operations, which have focused on Lebanese villages along the Blue Line border, are expected to be followed by a withdrawal of Israeli troops back into Israel. According to US officials, this incursion is not anticipated to mirror Israel's 34-day operation in Lebanon back in 2006 but rather represents a scaled-down version of the original plan.
However, there are concerns among US officials that what begins as a limited incursion could escalate into a more extensive and prolonged military operation. Discussions regarding these apprehensions are ongoing between US and Israeli authorities to address the potential risks associated with an expanded incursion.
