Daijiworld Media Network – Jerusalem
Jerusalem, Aug 28: Israel has conveyed to the United States through security channels that a pilot programme in southern Lebanon has failed to produce the expected results, according to a report by Walla.
The programme was launched following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Beirut and Jerusalem. Israeli officials have reportedly shared information with the US about the activities of the Lebanese Army and expressed strong dissatisfaction with its operations against Hezbollah infrastructure and operatives in southern Lebanon.
According to Israeli security officials, the Lebanese Army has failed to destroy terror infrastructure at locations identified through coordinates provided by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). Israeli officials claimed that despite receiving the coordinates, the Lebanese Army has continued to request additional information without taking effective action on the ground.
Senior IDF officials have also alleged that Lebanese Army Chief of Staff Rudolf Haykal continues to cooperate with Hezbollah and is reluctant to confront the group's commanders in southern Lebanon. Israeli assessments reportedly suggest that the Lebanese Army has been ineffective in searching for Hezbollah infrastructure and locating weapons.
“There is no real friction between the Lebanese Army and Hezbollah,” a senior Israeli security official was quoted as saying, adding that Hezbollah would not want its weapons or infrastructure to be targeted.
The official further claimed that the Lebanese Army was focusing more on coordination than enforcement and was not taking sufficient action against Hezbollah.
The official cited an incident in which Lebanese Army personnel reportedly entered an underground opening by only a few metres before withdrawing without conducting a full search. According to the Israeli assessment, the army is unlikely to take stronger action despite continuing to seek additional coordinates.
Israel's dissatisfaction has reportedly led it to hold back from agreeing to expand the pilot programme to additional areas in southern Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Israeli assessments indicate that Iran, which has previously provided significant support to Hezbollah, is currently focused on its own challenges and is not rushing to provide additional assistance to the group.