Israel has asked the United States to allow it to expand its military operations in Lebanon to include large-scale air strikes on Beirut, rather than limiting its actions to targeted assassinations, according to Israeli Channel 12.
The broadcaster reported on Sunday evening that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a second security meeting on the same day to discuss the possibility of shifting from occupying and seizing territory in Lebanon to launching an air campaign in Beirut.
According to the report, any decision on the matter depends on discussions with the US administration, adding that the issue has gained momentum in recent days.
Two days earlier, Netanyahu spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and sought to persuade senior US administration officials, as well as President Donald Trump, that “Israel cannot grant Hezbollah immunity in Beirut, even if targeted assassinations can be carried out there”.
Israeli sources cited by the report said that “the decision on the nature of the operation in Beirut is being made in coordination with Washington”.
An Israeli source described by the report as familiar with the matter said that the Americans “are showing greater openness, but there is no final approval, at least for now”.
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