Katz says Israel has no plans for new war with Lebanon

A senior United Nations official who recently visited Israel has relayed remarks from Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, stating that the Israeli army has no plans to launch a broad military operation against Lebanon, even if U.S. envoy Tom Barrack’s mediation efforts fail. The comments were reported Thursday by ad-Diyar newspaper.

According to the official, Katz emphasized that Israel will not escalate beyond its current military activities. He reportedly dismissed speculation of a repeat of the 1982 Lebanon invasion, assuring that there would be no full-scale campaign stretching from Mount Hermon to the al-Masnaa border crossing. Instead, military operations would remain limited to their existing scope.

U.S. Position on Stability in Lebanon

The UN source also conveyed to Lebanese authorities that Washington is committed to maintaining stability in Lebanon, describing it as a priority for the U.S. administration. This stance was reinforced by Lebanese-American Congressman Darrell Lahoud during his recent engagements with Lebanese officials, the report noted.

The statements from both Israeli and U.S. representatives suggest an active diplomatic push to prevent a wider conflict, with efforts aimed at containing military activity and avoiding a regional escalation.