Published On 4/27/2026
|
Last update: 02:49 (Mecca time)
The newspaper “Israel Hayom” – citing officials in the Israeli army – said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement – last Saturday – that he ordered the army to respond forcefully to Hezbollah in Lebanon is a show of force to relieve internal pressure, and an attempt by him to place responsibility on the army under the pretext of not achieving the desired results.
The newspaper added that – two and a half hours after Netanyahu’s announcement – the army spokesman published a statement in which he stated that the forces attacked buildings used for military purposes by Hezbollah in areas in southern Lebanon, stressing the continuation of decisive action to confront the threats against the Israelis and the army forces, in accordance with the instructions of the political level.
Senior army officials explained that Netanyahu’s statement was nothing but a misleading attempt aimed at relieving popular pressure, pointing out that there was no actual change in the instructions of the army – whose activities remained the same – in response to the events or an attempt to prevent them.
The sources added that Netanyahu’s statement was not random, but rather aims to hold the army responsible for not achieving the required results, stressing that the operations are being carried out strictly in accordance with the instructions of the political level, and even in accordance with the directives dictated by US President Donald Trump, who declared a ceasefire in Lebanon for 10 days, then extended it for an additional 3 weeks.
According to the newspaper, this is not the first time – in recent weeks – that a dispute has broken out between the army and the political echelon regarding military operations in Lebanon. At the beginning of the month, a senior officer said – in a briefing to reporters – that the operations in Lebanon do not aim to disarm Hezbollah, and will not achieve this.
The newspaper adds that these statements came in contrast to the public statements of the political level, which created a feeling among the residents of northern Israel that this round will not end without a decisive result.
According to “Israel Hayom”, these disagreements are only the tip of the iceberg of a growing feeling within the army and the security establishment that Netanyahu is looking for a “scapegoat” to hold him responsible for the disappointing results in Lebanon, as well as the partial results in Iran.
She added that the Iranian arena may witness the responsibility of the Foreign Intelligence Service (Mossad), while the army is expected to be held fully responsible for Lebanon, despite its implementation of operations precisely in accordance with the instructions of the political level.
The field reality is becoming more complex
According to the newspaper “Israel Hayom”, with the escalation of friction between the political and military levels, the field situation becomes more complicated, noting that the Israeli army already controls large areas and many sites in southern Lebanon, but restricting its movement hinders its ability to provide complete protection for the towns of the north and for its forces deployed in the field.
The newspaper added that Hezbollah once again took advantage of the ceasefire and what it described as the “defensive nature of the army’s activity” to launch an attack on a force from the Golani Brigade in the town of Taybeh, killing a soldier and wounding others.
She pointed out that although the army announced that it would respond, this time it also moved within the “permissible areas” in southern Lebanon.
The newspaper stated that this stagnation in the army’s activity is a sure recipe for more Israeli deaths and injuries and increased frustration among the army’s ranks, pointing out that the current circumstances are more complex, in light of the size of the forces, the nature of remaining in the field, the restriction of the army’s freedom of action, and the type of weapons of the opposing party, in addition to Hezbollah’s motivation to fight.
The newspaper said that the statements of the political level regarding the army remaining in Lebanon and managing negotiations under fire represent a recipe for the continuation of this reality in the near term.
Last Thursday, US President Donald Trump announced a three-week extension of the ceasefire that began on April 17, following a new round of talks at the White House between the ambassadors of Lebanon and Israel.
Despite the truce taking effect, Israel continues to carry out air and artillery strikes in southern Lebanon, as it announced the establishment of what it calls the Yellow Line and prevented residents from returning to dozens of villages located within it.
