Israeli army officials accuse Netanyahu of seeking scapegoat for Lebanon failures

Senior Israeli army officials accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of searching for a scapegoat to blame for Israel's failures in Lebanon and the partial results of its confrontation with Iran, the Israel Hayom daily reported Sunday. The officials said Netanyahu's claim that he had instructed the army to "respond forcefully" to Hezbollah's attacks in Lebanon was merely a political show aimed at easing domestic pressure, with no actual change in military directives.

No real escalation

The report said that Netanyahu announced late Saturday that he had ordered the Israeli army to strike Hezbollah targets "with force" following repeated ceasefire violations and attacks from Lebanon. However, senior army officials said the strikes that followed were routine and carried out under the same existing rules of engagement, limited to southern Lebanon and without any real escalation. They described Netanyahu's statement as a "smokescreen," stressing that there had been no change in army orders.

US restrictions

The officials said Netanyahu was trying to portray the army as responsible for failing to deliver the results he had promised, while in reality, the military was operating strictly according to instructions from the political leadership. They added that Israeli operations in Lebanon remain effectively restricted by the guidelines set by US President Donald Trump, who announced the Lebanon ceasefire and later extended it by another three weeks.

Growing frustration

The report said frustration is growing inside the army and wider security establishment over what officials described as Netanyahu's attempt to shift responsibility for the disappointing outcome in Lebanon and the incomplete outcome of the confrontation with Iran. The officials warned that the current pattern of limited military action leaves Israeli forces exposed to further attacks and fails to provide security for northern communities.