Exclusive JNews Lebanon
Lebanon is entering its most dangerous countdown between now and the end of May, caught in a brutal race between unprecedented military escalation by Tel Aviv and high-stakes diplomatic maneuvers in Washington and Doha. Field indicators overwhelmingly show that military force currently dictates the landscape. The Israeli army officially announced the expansion of its ground operations, breaching the previously established “Yellow Line” and pushing north of the Litani River, backed by a massive recall of reserve troops and forced evacuation orders for Nabih Berri’s stronghold city of Nabatiyeh, along with the Western Beqaa towns of Mashghara and Sohmor.
.
The Strategy to Dominate Nabatiyeh by Fire
Military sources tracking the situation closely informed JNews Lebanon that the immediate strategic goal behind Israel’s push north of the Yellow Line is the capture of the historic Beaufort Castle (Qalaat al-Shaqif). Sources explained that occupying the fortress grants the Israeli military direct fire control over the entire city of Nabatiyeh, paving the way for a ground assault to impose a harsh new reality before sitting at the negotiating table. This offensive is happening with a broad green light from Donald Trump’s administration, aimed at neutralizing Hezbollah’s military infrastructure. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed Washington’s backing for the escalation, preceding a crucial phone call between Trump and Netanyahu.
Lebanese Military Delegation Heads to the Pentagon
Amidst this inferno, the Lebanese military delegation is departing for Washington tomorrow to participate in the fourth round of the security-military track negotiations under exclusive US sponsorship, scheduled for May 29 at the Pentagon. Insiders told JNews Lebanon that the Lebanese delegation travels backed by the legitimacy of field plans implemented by the Lebanese Army prior to the war’s resumption on March 2. While Israel pushes extreme demands, Washington has welcomed the Lebanese army’s operational framework. The upcoming session aims to explore intentions regarding a permanent ceasefire, ensuring Lebanon does not end up as collateral damage in regional friction.
Rare Camp David Summit & Muscat Coded Agreement
Regionally, the US-Iran backchannel is nearing a decisive climax, with Qatari mediation successfully unlocking the frozen assets dispute. In a move highlighting the extreme sensitivity of the situation, US President Donald Trump is convening a rare, high-level cabinet meeting at the secure Camp David presidential retreat. The summit will dominate two critical fronts: economic policies and neutralizing Iran’s nuclear files—specifically Trump’s proposition to destroy highly enriched uranium within Iran or transfer it to an internationally supervised location. Despite defensive US airstrikes in southern Iran early this morning, Washington maintains that a landmark memorandum of understanding remains highly achievable within the coming days.
Read alsoExclusive: Hezbollah’s Ultimate Dilemma: Disarmament or Total Destruction…
