A Russian delegation visited Israel on March 11, but no further information was available.- The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office spoke at length about the meeting in Naqoura, Lebanon, with the participation of IDF representatives and representatives of the United States, France and Lebanon.
“As part of the meeting, it was agreed to establish three joint working groups whose goal is to stabilize the region and which will focus on the following issues: the five points on which Israel controls southern Lebanon, discussions on the Blue Line issue and the points that remain controversial, and the issue of Lebanese prisoners held by Israel.”
Five Lebanese prisoners were released and handed over to the Red Cross. Nizar Zakka, a politician and commentator, tells LBCI that five Lebanese detainees held by Israel include four civilians, one Hezbollah operative. In exchange, Lebanon has agreed to start negotiations on the demarcation of the land border with Israel regarding the 13 disputed points along the Blue Line.
US envoy Morgan Ortagus said the meeting was positive: “We have started diplomatic working groups that will work to resolve the issues between Lebanon and Israel, such as the Blue Line and others.” “The agreement is about disarmament and the destruction of all Hezbollah infrastructure south of the Litani River.” The US envoy added that it is the Lebanese state’s duty to rebuild, not Hezbollah’s.
Turkey will host a regional summit next month where Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Jordan and Turkey will present plans to create a joint operations center to fight the Islamic State, according to Turkish and Arab sources. Technical discussions are already underway.
The IDF claims to have killed the head of Hezbollah’s Aerial Array in the regional unit “Bader”, Hassan Ezzidine. The Bader unit is stationed north of the Litani River and therefore is not related to the disarmament mentioned in the ceasefire and Resolution 1701. In a visit to Mount Hermon, Israeli Defense Minister Katz announced: “The IDF will remain at the highest point indefinitely. The IDF now has 9 bases in Syria, including this one. The IDF base on Mount Hermon completely exposes Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley as it dominates it. The IDF now has a buffer zone in Syria. The IDF now has an area of influence of 80 km that reaches all the way to the outskirts of Damascus. The Syrian Druze will start working in Israel (Golan Heights) starting March 16.”
The IDF is preparing for the resumption of Houthi rocket and drone fire against Israel and has put several systems on alert, including the Arrow missile interception system.
A statement from a Houthi spokesman signaled the resumption of fire: “From now on, the Israeli naval blockade of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Arabian Sea will be extended until the crossings to the Gaza Strip are opened for the delivery of humanitarian aid.” The Houthis in Yemen have therefore announced the resumption of attacks against Israeli ships in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea due to Israel’s disagreement with the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced via video that “all ‘Israeli’ ships attempting to cross the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden will be blocked, effective immediately.” The reason is the failure to comply with the ceasefire agreements with Hamas. “Any Israeli vessel attempting to violate this ban will be targeted in the declared area of operation. This ban will continue until the crossings to the Gaza Strip are reopened and the entry of aid, food and medicine is allowed.”
And now a look at the military scenarios.
Another Russian An-124-100 military transport plane has arrived in Syria. A delegation of 100 Druze sheiks from Syria visited Israel via the al-Tineh crossing from the Druze town of Hadar, north of Quneitra governorate. According to Haaretz: “According to directives from the political level, the Israeli army has been instructed to prevent any Syrian military entrenchment up to a depth of 65 kilometers inside Syrian territory. In addition, the army is preparing to establish additional military positions in the buffer zone inside Syria.”
This is a 65-kilometer radius from the border, extending to the road that connects the capital, Damascus, to the city of Suweida in the south, the Israeli military will not allow the Syrian government to introduce long-range weapons, such as rocket launchers or advanced weapons systems.
Targeted bombings continues in South Lebanon: In Naqoura a car was attacked while carrying firewood collected from trees. Two Israeli Merkava tanks passed through the Halwani area on the outskirts of the city of Ramia in South Lebanon. Israeli jets and drones are active in South Lebanon and Baalbek-Beqaa. An Israeli force, reinforced with a bulldozer and a Merkava tank, advanced towards the outskirts of Rmeish and created an earthen barrier around the wall (Al-Akhbar). An Israeli force also surrounded a Lebanese army base near Ramiah.
IDF shooting and targeted attacks continue in Gaza as well: Palestinian sources estimate 1,300 violations committed by the IDF. Shooting from Israeli vehicles stationed northwest of Beit Lahia, in the northern Strip. Advisor to the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Local Government in Gaza. Zuhdi Al-Ghurair for “Al-Risala”: Desalination and processing stations have been stopped: All central desalination plants and processing stations in Gaza are suspended due to the 16-month war and the occupation has cut off electricity.
Central desalination station is cut off: The station that supplies central and southern Gaza has been cut off due to power cuts provided by Israel. There are 70% loss of fresh water sources: The station was producing 16 thousand glasses of water per day and with the cut off, the available fresh water has decreased by 70%. Difficulty in operating generators: Fuel shortages make it almost impossible to use them. Additionally, 85% of fresh water sources in Gaza have been destroyed, forcing residents to drink undrinkable water. Private and public desalination plants are 90% damaged, 296 stations have been damaged or cut off due to direct attacks or fuel shortages. Wastewater treatment plant stopped.
Attacks continue in the West Bank as well: targeted attacks in Qalqilya. The city of Nablus was hit in several places throughout the night of March 12. IDF attacked the town of Bani Naim, east of the city of Hebron.
Antonio Albanese e Graziella Giangiulio
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