Published June 1st, 2026 - 07:17 GMT
ALBAWABA - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a small security meeting, his second in less than 24 hours, to discuss the possibility of Israel shifting from a strategy of controlling territory in Lebanon to launching an air campaign in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, Israeli Channel 12 reported Sunday evening.According to the Israeli channel, the decision regarding this shift remains contingent on ongoing consultations with the U.S. administration in Washington, which have intensified in recent days.The report indicated that Netanyahu spoke two days prior with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, seeking to convince senior American administration officials and President Donald Trump that Israel cannot grant Hezbollah "immunity" in Beirut, even if operations are limited to targeted assassinations or precision strikes. Additionally, the Israeli channel quoted Israeli sources as saying that any decision regarding the nature of operations in Beirut will be made in coordination with Washington. An Israeli source familiar with the details stated, "The Americans are showing greater openness, but there is no final green light yet, at least not at the moment."This picture taken from a position in northern Israel on the border with southern Lebanon, shows an Israeli soldier taking position on the balcony of a building on May 31, 2026. Photo by JALAA MAREY / AFPMeanwhile, the report revealed that Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz and Chief of Staff of the Israeli army Eyal Zamir pressed during security deliberations for expanding offensive operations in Lebanon, including intensifying airstrikes. Channel 12 added that the Israeli political leadership was briefed on operational plans that included attacks in Beirut, along with the possibility of evacuating residents from specific areas if necessary.It also indicated that Netanyahu acknowledged, during closed-door discussions, that Israel could not carry out all the actions it desired in Lebanon due to restrictions and pressure exerted by the US administration on the conduct of military operations.
