Israel sends Lebanon a fiery message to negotiate

This week marked another escalatory Israeli military activity, coinciding with alarming Israeli media rhetoric. From conducting devastating airstrikes, issuing serious threats and even evacuation orders to several southern villages, Tel Aviv seems to be exacerbating its pressure on Beirut.

From here, what does Israel hope to achieve from its intensified campaign on Lebanon?

Israeli intensified campaign on Lebanon

In the wake of recent spike in airstrikes described as the most serious in recent weeks, tensions along Lebanon’s southern front have sharply increased. Israeli operations have focused on several southern villages, reintroducing evacuation orders meant to apply significant pressure on the Lebanese state. These incidents have left casualties and sent shock through the border communities. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) issued a statement condemning the wave of attacks as part of a sustained destructive policy aimed at destabilizing Lebanon, expanding damage in the south, and obstructing the full deployment of the Lebanese army under the ceasefire terms.

Meanwhile, Lebanese President General Joseph Aoun publicly condemned the Israeli assaults, calling them not only flagrant breaches of International Humanitarian Law (for targeting and terrorizing civilians and forcing displacements) but also “vile political crimes.” He argued that Israel’s aggression is intended to punish any Lebanese openness to negotiations and violates the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1701 and the November 2024 ceasefire agreement.

Israeli media have even stepped up their warnings and alarming leaks, which further escalated the current situation. Yedioth Ahronoth, quoting Israeli security sources, claimed that Israeli intelligence has monitored the transfer of weapons and new field trainings for Hezbollah, some of which are allegedly carried out in cooperation with the LAF. In the same spirit, Israel Hayom announced that “it is not unlikely that Israel will launch a preemptive operation lasting several days against Hezbollah targets in various Lebanese areas,” however it pointed out that it is “unlikely to be carried out in the coming month unless the group decides to escalate.”

Israeli pressure for negotiations

The aim behind this intensified campaign is clear: disarming Hezbollah and initiating direct negotiations with Lebanon. It frames the aforementioned attacks as aimed at Hezbollah assets and repeatedly warns that it will deliver further blows unless the group’s arsenal is dismantled. An Israeli military official reaffirmed this matter, claiming that “if the Lebanese army and the Lebanese state understand the Israeli message through the strikes and diplomatic channels, escalation can be avoided.”

Earlier on November 6, 2025, Hezbollah released what it called an “open letter” addressed to Lebanon’s three top state officials and the Lebanese people, clarifying its stance on proposed negotiations with Israel. It set out the group’s categorical rejection of any political talks with Israel and aimed to avoid ambiguity by documenting its position in precise terms at a highly sensitive moment. Hezbollah warned against negotiation “traps” that would ultimately advantage Israel and called for unity to resist external coercion. Additionally, it affirmed its “legitimate right” to resist occupation, thus insisting on its continuation in retaining exclusivity of bearing arms.

However, Tel Aviv and even Washington are keen to bring Beirut to negotiations with Israel, especially direct ones. While Lebanese Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri previously announced the strict adherence to the “Mechanism” (possibly introducing technical civilians to the Lebanese delegation), this proposal does not suffice Israel-American demands. Therefore, Israel has ramped up its military, media and diplomatic activities to bring the country into direct negotiations (as ell as upholding its commitment to disarm Hezbollah, both South and North of the Litani River). From here, President Aoun claimed that “the message” from Israel had been received.