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On May 7, 2024, a London-based Saudi daily, Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, published a report citing unnamed sources within Lebanese Hizbullah and its Lebanese ally, the Amal Movement, asserting that Hizbullah had announced a general mobilization.
The sources explained that the decision was taken should Israel decide to expand its invasion of the Rafah crossing to include southern Lebanon.[1]
"These sources confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that 'international parties' did not dismiss the possibility that Israel might expand the war as a pre-emptive step to prevent the party [i.e., Hizbullah] from repeating what Hamas did when it invaded the Israeli settlements located in the Gaza Envelope," noted the report.
The report further underlined that in its recent attacks against Israel, Hizbullah had started using advanced weapons capable of reaching well inside Israel. It added that the move comes in response to Israel's "breach" of the rules of engagement when it targeted the Litani area in southern Lebanon.
By doing so, Hizbullah is hoping to create a "new equation" that would prevent Israel from expanding its operations to Lebanon, according to the report.
[1] May 7, 2024.
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