During a Cabinet meeting on Monday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that Israel's primary goal in Lebanon is to sever the connection established on October 8th between the Lebanese front and Gaza. He also noted that applying military pressure on Hezbollah's leader, Nasrallah, could facilitate a hostage deal with Hamas, according to Israel national news reports.
The sources indicated that Israel refrained from targeting additional sites in Beirut on Monday to preserve diplomatic options. Hezbollah is anticipated to continue its responses over the next 24 hours, after which further steps will be assessed.
A US-led diplomatic initiative is expected to propose a temporary ceasefire and arrangements based on United Nations Resolution 1701. This resolution calls for Hezbollah to withdraw north of the Litani River and disarm in southern Lebanon. Signed in August 2006, Resolution 1701 mandates that no military forces other than UNIFIL and the Lebanese military should operate south of the Litani River.
However, the resolution has not been enforced effectively, allowing Hezbollah to entrench itself in southern Lebanon over the past 18 years.
