Israeli military commanders say claims by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz of maintaining “absolute freedom of action” in southern Lebanon sharply contradict the reality on the ground, according to Israeli media reports on Wednesday.
The newspaper Haaretz quoted commanders as saying that operational constraints and political ambiguity are increasingly shaping Israeli military activity in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli army has effectively become “a hostage to diplomatic moves between Washington and Tehran,” the daily quoted Israeli commanders, underscoring the extent to which broader negotiations are influencing field operations.
According to the newspaper, officers in frontline units and the Northern Command are describing a state of “deep frustration” and even operational paralysis, driven by unclear directives and the gap between official statements and the restrictions imposed in practice.
In a related report, Maariv cited a source indicating that the army is preparing for possible changes to its deployment in southern Lebanon, in line with decisions taken at the political level.
Earlier on Tuesday, Yedioth Ahronoth published testimonies in which Israeli soldiers deployed inside Lebanon describe mounting anxiety over Hezbollah drones and frustration with Israeli military leadership, arguing that field units were operating under restricted authority.
Israeli soldiers deployed inside Lebanon describe mounting fear and constant anxiety under the threat of Hezbollah explosive drones, which they say have turned routine operations into moments of exposure and helplessness, according to testimonies published by Yedioth Ahronoth.… pic.twitter.com/DTCBcNlqZT
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