WhatsappWith the Gaza front finally under control Israel is moving more and more of its focus up north. The air force has been busy striking deeper and deeper into Lebanon and softening the ground in preparation for an Israeli ground operation before winter has a chance to arrive.
As recently as yesterday’s cabinet meeting, Netanyahu’s government has added the return of civilians to their homes in the north as one of Israel’s war goals. This is a big move and indicates that the shift is in fact real. Soldiers that thought they were going to have a longer break after their time in Gaza are now being informed to be ready to return very soon without being told which front.
Despite the Harris-Biden administration working overtime to avert an expanded war between Israel and Hezbollah, Netanyahu has now informed them that there is no more time to negotiate with Hezbollah - a full scale war with the Iranian proxy is the only way to ensure security.
On top of that, the Head of the IDF’s Northern Command, Major General Uri Gordan is reportedly pushing for the IDF to go into Lebanon to establish a security buffer zone.
So why the wait? With Gaza essentially the same intensity as Jenin and Tulkarm the IDF should have already launched its invasion of Lebanon.
Today’s news is that Prime Minister Netanyahu is finally ready to fire Defense Minister Gallant from his job and possibly put in Gideon Saar, former Likudnik and the head of the opposition New Hope Party. This of course has been a rumor for a while, but the rumors appear to be true this time. The firing of Gallant as Defense Minister is seen as long over due as he has been at odds with Netanyahu, often taking the Biden administration’s position. Many believe that this is one of the reasons for the delay.
Something is happening…now!
However, despite the rumored political change, reports now say that dramatic developments connected to war with Lebanon pulled the Prime Minister, Defense Minister and military leaders into a surprise meeting this afternoon – freezing the firing of Gallant.
Is war imminent?
Although we have been down this road before, the fact that Gallant’s firing was days away and now frozen and the growing support for a final war with Hezbollah coming from across Israeli society including the IDF commanders, war appears to be moments away.
The game with Saar over the last few days and today, may have been just that - a game. After all, the Prime Minister trusts him as much as he trusts Gallant. With war upon Israel from the North, the game with Saar has had the effect it needed – force Gallant back to the right and away from the Americans. Whatever the reasons for the game of political chairs – Gallant has now come and publicly thrown his support behind a full IDF invasion of Lebanon. This he made clear to the US Secretary of Defense Loyd Austin. Gallant said the following in a phone call to the Defense Secretary last night: “The possibility of a settlement in the north is passing. Hezbollah continues to tie itself to Hamas — the direction is clear.”
Yes, full war is close - very close.
