Iran Press/West Asia: While Israel has yet to fully commit to a large-scale ground offensive in Lebanon, preparations are underway, the officials confirmed. If a ground operation takes place, its scale is expected to be limited.
However, simply targeting Hezbollah leadership will not suffice, the officials added, noting that the resistance movement’s military infrastructure must be dismantled to eliminate the movement's defensive capability.
The comments come in the aftermath of Friday's assassination of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. U.S. officials were reportedly given only "a few minutes’ notice" before the strike, which has significantly raised tensions in the region. According to sources, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed frustration during a conversation with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant about the lack of warning regarding Sayyed Nasrallah's assassination. Washington is concerned about potential retaliatory attacks that could jeopardize U.S. interests and personnel in West Asia.
“We do bear a lot of risks in the region,” one U.S. official acknowledged, adding that the failure to provide adequate notice before such a significant event strained communication between Washington and Tel Aviv. "Our interests could be seriously harmed if we lose key contacts with the Israelis," the source said.
Sources also revealed that Nasrallah had been pushing for a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel to be linked to a broader ceasefire agreement in Gaza, right up until his martyrdom. His assassination, therefore, marks a significant turning point in the conflict, potentially hardening positions on both sides.
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