In a brazen act of military escalation that defies international pleas for restraint, Israel launched airstrikes on Lebanese territory early this morning, sources confirm. The strikes, targeting Hezbollah positions near the border, come less than 24 hours after former President Donald Trump publicly criticised Israeli policy, calling it 'out of control' in a phone call with a key ally. The timing is no coincidence. It smells like a calculated finger in the eye of a man who once handed Netanyahu the keys to the White House.
Uncovered documents from a leaked diplomatic cable show that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's emergency cabinet meeting ended with a joint statement calling for 'immediate de-escalation'. But words are cheap. The reality on the ground is anything but. Witnesses report at least seven explosions near the town of Naqoura, where UN peacekeepers are stationed. No official casualty numbers yet, but the sounds of ambulances are a dead giveaway.
This is a pattern we've seen before. When the pressure mounts, Israel hits harder. The US State Department, still reeling from Trump's outburst, has so far issued nothing more than a 'concerned' press release. Meanwhile, the UK's Foreign Secretary David Lammy is reportedly trying to assemble a coalition for a ceasefire, but sources inside Downing Street say the chances are slim. 'They're gambling that the chaos will distract from their own internal crises,' said one advisor, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The Lebanese government, already on its knees after years of economic collapse, has called for an emergency Arab League meeting. But let's be honest: the League has about as much bite as a toothless lion. Hezbollah has promised 'swift retaliation', and the region holds its breath.
Who benefits from this chaos? Follow the money. Israeli defence stocks are up this morning. Weapons manufacturers are rubbing their hands together. And the oil markets are jittery. The usual suspects. The UK's plea for de-escalation is a noble sentiment, but it's like asking a wildfire to stop burning. The only language these actors understand is power, and right now, power is dropping bombs.
I have a source inside the Israeli Defence Ministry who tells me this operation was planned weeks ago. 'We needed a trigger,' they said. 'Trump's comments gave us cover.' If that's true, then the former president's loose lips may have cost lives. But don't expect an apology from Mar-a-Lago.
As I write this, the UN Security Council is convening an emergency session. Expect more statements, more condemnations, and no action. The world is tired of Lebanon's suffering. But the bombs don't care. They keep falling.
