Israel’s Lebanon operation to not end before US presidential election

Israel’s expanding military operation in Lebanon is unlikely to end before the Nov. 5 U.S. presidential election, the Financial Times writes, citing Western officials.

As noted, the current situation does not inspire optimism that Israel will stop.

The newspaper writes that the change in the rhetoric of the Israeli political leadership and the scale of population evacuation from the border regions increase the doubts about the near end of the Israeli operation in the West.

The situation in the Middle East has worsened dramatically since Hamas militants infiltrated into Israel from the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, 2023.

Israel announced the complete blockade of the Gaza Strip and launched a military operation there. On Sept. 23, the Israeli army launched the Northern Arrows operation against Hezbollah, making large-scale airstrikes on military facilities located in Lebanon. On Sept. 30, it announced the launch of a limited ground operation in the border areas of southern Lebanon.