Hochstein delivers a strong warning to Lebanon: A final chance before escalation!

Lebanon Today

Local media reported that the Deputy US Envoy, Morgan Ortagus, will arrive in Beirut from “Israel” as part of a tour in which she will complete the American track related to the exclusivity of weapons and the deployment of the Lebanese army, to be followed by the US Envoy, Tom Barak, at the beginning of next November.

Diplomatic sources revealed that “the American message is clear and unified, and goes beyond the issue of the exclusivity of weapons to searching for a mechanism for negotiation with Israel,” pointing out that Ortagus carries a short deadline that does not exceed a few weeks, in light of indications reaching Lebanese parties about the limits of this deadline and its consequences, warning that ignoring it may lead to a serious escalation.

Ortagus today conducted a tour on the Lebanese border accompanied by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who said that “Israel will continue to defend the northern regions against any threat.”

The Lebanese authorities are discussing the possibility of opening the door to negotiation, as the Speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berri, proposes a “mechanistic” track, while the President of the Republic seeks to find practical mechanisms for dialogue, including reviving the idea of committees in Naqoura as a way out to spare Lebanon the risk of an expanded war threatened by Israel.

These developments come amid warnings and information about Israeli military preparations targeting several areas in Lebanon, which may extend to the outskirts of the capital, Beirut.

In a related context, the head of the Egyptian Intelligence Service, Major General Hassan Rashad, is arriving in Beirut, where he will meet with the three presidents. According to political sources, the visit carries remarkable significance given the high-ranking security position of the visitor, noting that he will convey to Lebanese officials the contents of the same international and Arab messages that converge on the need to control the situation and prevent slipping towards an open confrontation.