As US President Donald Trump's ultimatum to Iran nears its expiration, members of the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet are set to receive a review of the available options in Operation "Roaring Lion." Cabinet ministers are expected to discuss near-term alternatives, ranging from ending the campaign to escalating it if an agreement between Iran and the US is indeed not on the table.
Although the decision on how to steer the broader campaign is being made in Washington rather than in Jerusalem, officials here are closely watching the various possibilities and acting accordingly, with the Israel Defense Forces prepared to carry out additional strikes aimed at depriving the ayatollah regime of capabilities. If the war continues, Israel is preparing to strike infrastructure facilities.
In addition, the cabinet is expected to receive a briefing on developments in Lebanon. This follows repeated demands by cabinet ministers in recent weeks and contradictory statements by the military and Defense Minister Israel Katz regarding the war's objectives.
In the political system, officials are pinning hopes on a clarification issued by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, who set as a goal the demilitarization of the area up to the Litani River, in line with remarks made by the defense minister.
It is important to note that no decisions are expected this evening regarding either front, and that the purpose is to update ministers on the progress of events. Even so, cabinet ministers are expected to again demand that the war in Lebanon not be ended without exacting a heavy price from the Hezbollah terrorist organization and demilitarizing southern Lebanon in order to restore security to communities near the border.
