Israeli media: Hezbollah allegedly developed a plan to occupy Beirut

BEIRUT — Israeli news agency Wallah alleges that Hezbollah “has developed an action plan to occupy Beirut in order to push back pragmatic forces seeking rapprochement with Israel,” in a dispatch published Tuesday.

Direct talks between Lebanon and Israel at the ambassadorial level will begin Thursday in Washington, following efforts by the U.S. government.

The Israeli agency also reports “growing pressure on Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem, who is convinced that Israel has plans to occupy large areas of Lebanon.” Citing sources within Israel’s security establishment, it adds that the Shiite party “believes Israel is planning to divide Lebanon, a plan that would cost the Lebanese state large portions of its national territory.”

Walla also states that “this imaginary scenario, as seen by Hezbollah, increases the pressure on Naim Qassem, who is forced to divide his forces between Beirut, South Lebanon and the Bekaa.” According to Israeli estimates, “the more the Israeli army steps up its attacks, the more pressure will increase on the Hezbollah chief.”

Despite the cease-fire that went into effect on April 17, Hezbollah and Israel are continuing near-daily reciprocal attacks. Israeli forces now occupy part of the South, and they have recently crossed the “buffer zone” established in the region. Hezbollah, for its part, is putting up fierce resistance, but has not been able to prevent entire villages from being razed by Israeli explosives and bulldozers.

Walla also claims that the pro-Iranian party is facing the worst economic and financial crisis in its history, since “the Iranian regime has dramatically reduced its financial transfers to Lebanon.”

“Given the heavy blows struck by the Israeli army against Hezbollah’s leaders and economic infrastructure, particularly its financial institutions, the party is currently experiencing one of its most difficult economic periods,” the text continues.

During this war and the previous one in 2024, Israeli airstrikes have systematically targeted branches of Hezbollah’s main financial institution, al-Qard al-Hassan, as well as many gas stations and exchange offices run by its members or associates. The Israeli-American war against Iran, which began on Feb. 28, has also severely affected its Iranian ally and sponsor.

The article finally points out that these economic difficulties prevent Hezbollah from providing economic support “to the hundreds of thousands of Lebanese civilians who have fled villages now under Israeli control, and those who have left certain localities out of fear that the fighting zone would expand.”

This conflict has created more than a million displaced people who have headed farther north, including tens of thousands to Beirut alone. It is the Lebanese government, which has sought to distance itself from the war launched by Hezbollah, that is providing them with reception centers and a minimum of aid.