Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, known for its close ties to Hezbollah, reported on Tuesday that Beirut had recently received diplomatic messages containing threats of an impending Israeli attack.
Sources told the newspaper that most representatives from international delegations expressed concern over the severity of the Israeli threat. However, the most significant messages came from the British side, which estimated that Israel would attack in mid-June. The British also advised Lebanon to prepare for war, the duration and scope of which remain unknown.
Meanwhile, former Lebanese minister Walid Jumblatt said he heard concerns about Israel's intentions towards Lebanon during his recent visit to Qatar. Qatari officials expressed worry that Israel does not want a ceasefire in Gaza, despite American efforts to achieve one.
Al-Akhbar learned that before US President Joe Biden's speech regarding the Israeli proposal for a prisoner exchange deal, Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri received a 40-minute call from US presidential envoy to the region Amos Hochstein.
During the call, Hochstein told Berri that "the Biden administration insists on completing negotiations for a solution on the southern front (Lebanon-Israel border) and is making an effort to reach a calm in Gaza. When this happens, we will start negotiating around the disputed points (on the land border between Israel and Lebanon)."
Against this backdrop, sources reported that Hochstein's optimism appears to have faded due to the conduct of the Israeli government in response to the proposal presented by Biden. The escalating tensions and diplomatic warnings have raised concerns about the possibility of a significant Israeli military operation against Lebanon in the near future, as the region braces for potential conflict.
