Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is signaling the possibility of new wars in the region, particularly targeting Iran and Lebanon. However, analysts believe no action will be taken before his scheduled meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida on December 29.
اضافة اعلان
Hebrew media outlets are reporting on a potential Israeli attack on Iran and a possible escalation against Lebanon. Despite calls from some Netanyahu government officials to resume military operations in Gaza, it is expected that Trump will push to follow through with his plan to end the conflict there.
With U.S. backing, Israel began a large-scale military campaign in Gaza on October 8, 2023, which resulted in approximately 71,000 Palestinian deaths and over 171,000 injuries, mostly women and children. Under Trump’s plan, a first phase of a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel started on October 10, but Israel has violated it daily, causing over 400 more Palestinian casualties.
Winds of War
“Winds of war have begun to blow in the region,” wrote Israeli military analyst Avi Ashkenazi in Maariv on Monday. He noted the clear and decisive words of Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir during a ceremony in Tel Aviv, stating that Israel’s military would continue to strike wherever needed on both nearby and distant fronts, emphasizing that the campaign against Iran is a central focus in Israel’s long-term military planning.
Israel and Iran consider each other top enemies, exchanging accusations of sabotage and cyberattacks for years. In June, Israel launched a 12-day war against Iran with U.S. support, which Tehran responded to before the U.S. brokered a ceasefire. Expectations for a new conflict with Iran are rising, with the Trump-Netanyahu meeting expected to address key issues in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran.
Israel hopes to resume its military actions across these four fronts, though Israeli estimates suggest Trump may not agree. Ashkenazi added that Trump is determined to resolve the Gaza issue and prevent figures like Interior Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from undermining his objectives.
Regarding Syria, Trump aims to build a new system, seeing the country as a potential resource-rich economic hub for the U.S., while Israel continues incursions and airstrikes against Syrian targets. In Lebanon, Israel may continue operations in southern regions as long as Trump deems the situation controlled. Daily ceasefire violations have already killed hundreds of Lebanese, with Israel occupying key strategic areas.
Iran remains the primary unresolved issue. Although its nuclear program is frozen, Tehran is rebuilding missile defenses and investing heavily in missile and drone projects. Israel claims to have destroyed around 50% of Iran’s rocket arsenal and is seeking Trump’s approval for potential strikes. The Israeli military is preparing plans and identifying targets, assessing regional actors’ motives.
Defense Concerns
Analyst Tamir Morag on Channel 14 noted Israeli fears that gains from previous operations against Iran could erode over time if Tehran restores its military capabilities, potentially challenging Israel’s air defense. Israel is reportedly planning for three possible combat fronts next year: Lebanon first, then Gaza, followed by Iran. Israel has threatened new military action in Lebanon if Hezbollah does not disarm by the end of December. Hezbollah, which considers itself a resistance movement, insists on retaining its arms and calls for Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
Key Issues
According to analyst Itamar Eichner in Yedioth Ahronoth, intense discussions are underway at the highest political levels in Israel ahead of the Netanyahu-Trump meeting. The agenda focuses on persuading Trump on key issues: disarming Hamas and Hezbollah, countering Iran amid its ballistic missile production, and maintaining Israel’s qualitative military edge in the region. A main point of contention in Gaza revolves around the time frame allowed for Hamas to disarm, with Hamas proposing either a freeze or storage of weapons along with a long-term truce with Israel. Israeli officials believe they may ultimately need to disarm Hamas themselves if no international enforcement mechanism is established.
