The West considers deploying forces to Lebanon, Israel discovers Hezbollah's plot

Western countries have floated the idea of deploying international forces to Lebanon, alongside the Middle Eastern country's army, in case Israel and the Hezbollah movement reach a ceasefire agreement.

Some 10,000 UNIFIL peacekeepers have been deployed in southern Lebanon. (Source: Lorient Today)

On October 23, AFP news agency quoted a Western diplomat as saying: "Lebanon's partners have supported the country's army and are looking specifically at how they can provide further support in the event of a ceasefire and a lasting diplomatic agreement."

“What is needed now is a ceasefire and the presence of the Lebanese army alongside international forces,” he said.

Currently, about 10,000 peacekeepers from the United Nations Interim Force (UNIFIL) have been deployed in southern Lebanon.

On the same day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the country had discovered Hezbollah's plot to attack the country through underground tunnels containing jeeps and missiles.

“We found tunnels 100-200 meters from the border that were used to prepare an invasion of Israel. Such an attack, if successful, would be more devastating than the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023,” Netanyahu said.

After nearly a year of fighting with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Israel last month shifted its focus to Lebanon, stepping up air strikes against Hezbollah strongholds and launching a limited ground offensive. Hezbollah has also carried out repeated airstrikes in response.

At least 1,552 people have been killed since Israel intensified its bombing of Lebanon in September before sending ground troops across the border, according to Lebanese Health Ministry figures.

Lebanon's acting Prime Minister Najib Mikati recently announced that Beirut is ready to reinforce its army in the south of the country after any ceasefire is reached.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/chao-lua-trung-dong-phuong-tay-tinh-chuyen-trien-khai-luc-luong-den-lebanon-israel-phat-hien-am-muu-cua-hezbollah-291184.html