Amid ongoing border confrontations between Hezbollah and the Israeli military, significant developments have emerged. On October 21, thick smoke was seen rising over the southern Lebanese city of Khiam. According to a report by American media outlet Axios on October 20, two U.S. officials and two Israeli officials revealed that Israel submitted a document to the United States last week outlining stringent conditions to cease military operations in Lebanon. U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein visited Beirut on October 21 to discuss diplomatic solutions to the conflict, along with Israel’s demands. However, these demands conflict with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, and U.S. officials believe that Lebanon and the international community are unlikely to agree to them.
Israeli officials stated that one of the conditions for a ceasefire with the Shiite militant group Hezbollah and for allowing civilians to return home along the Lebanese-Israeli border is that the Israeli military must conduct “active enforcement operations.” This aims to ensure Hezbollah does not rearm or rebuild military infrastructure in the southern Lebanese region. Another requirement is for the Israeli Air Force to have operational freedom in Lebanese airspace.
The document was initiated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s close associate, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, and discussed with the Israeli Defense Ministry and military. Dermer sent the document to Hochstein on October 17.
However, these conditions directly contravene U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which established that the Lebanese Army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) would oversee the ceasefire following the end of the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. A U.S. official remarked that these Israeli conditions would significantly violate Lebanese sovereignty, and it is unlikely that Lebanon or the international community would agree to them.
Israeli officials contended that their primary focus is on reinforcing the implementation of that resolution. “If the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL do more, the IDF will have to do less, and vice versa,” they asserted. The White House and the Israeli embassy in Washington declined to comment on the matter.
Hochstein is expected to meet with Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. Berri stated on October 20 that Hochstein’s visit represents the last chance for the U.S. to broker a solution to the conflict ahead of the American elections. He emphasized that there is a consensus regarding the resolution in Lebanon and rejected any modifications.
Meanwhile, hostilities escalated further on October 20. Lebanese National News Agency reported that Israeli forces targeted and bombed branches of financial institutions alleged to be funding Hezbollah, resulting in 11 bombings in the southern suburbs of Beirut, with additional strikes in the Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon.
The institutions hit are primarily linked to Al-Qard Al-Hassan, which U.S. officials claim Hezbollah uses to manage its finances. The Jerusalem Post reported that Hezbollah has been using deposits from this institution to purchase weapons.
Additionally, according to reports from AFP cited by Central News Agency, Dr. Hans Kluge, director of the World Health Organization’s European regional office, indicated that as many as 1,000 women and children are expected to evacuate from the Gaza Strip to Europe for emergency medical care.
Furthermore, Israeli military operations continue to intensify in the northern Gaza Strip, particularly in the Jabalia refugee camp. Residents and healthcare workers report airstrikes targeting residential buildings, as well as the encirclement of schools and shelters designated for displaced persons.
In a separate incident in Beirut, dozens of police and security personnel clashed on October 21 with displaced individuals whom they were forcibly evicting from private property.
