BEIRUT – Following the recent Israeli attacks on the southern suburbs, Lebanese media has exaggerated the dimension of the visit of US General Jasper Jeffers, the head of the committee that oversees the implementation of the Southern Lebanon ceasefire agreement.
However, the visit did not involve exceptional changes to the role of the committee, but it was a protocol procedure to replace Jeffers with General Michael J. Renney.
General Michael J. Lenny graduated from the Virginia Military Institute. He then served in infantry, air defense and armored branches. He was subsequently appointed Chief of Staff of the Training, Advice and Support Command in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
In 2019, Renee was appointed deputy chief of staff for the operation of the 40th Infantry Division, and then in 2022 he was appointed commander of the 40th Infantry Division.
Sources said there was no reason behind the replacement of Jeffers, whose mission was originally temporary, but other sources argued that the reason was a “severe” criticism of Jeffers’ performance due to his failure to play his role in managing the committee.
These sources noted that this move occurred in response to Lebanon’s repeated calls to the international community in Lebanon after the failure of the US efforts to turn the committee into a political negotiation committee, in response to Israel’s pressure to halt the ongoing violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty that hinders the work of the Lebanese military.
Lebanese officials also called for the commission to stimulate work to resolve notable issues regarding Israeli occupation, Lebanese prisoners and areas under border boundaries.
Meanwhile, there was talk of Israeli professional groups’ intentions to launch a massive ground operation against Lebanon under the flimsy pretext of refusing to disarm the resistance.
International law affirms the right of people to protect themselves. Therefore, the Israeli regime is the occupying Lebanon’s territory.
In light of this reality, some of the fools on Israel’s side in Lebanon suggest that as Lebanese, they abandon what Israel considers a threat and wait for them to kill us without the means to protect themselves.
This coincided with the escalation of a statement by Massad Boulos, a senior Trump adviser who hopes the military will clash with resistance. However, Hezbollah’s chief Sheikh Naim Qassem emphasized in his final speech that the Army and resistance will not fall into conflict with each other.
Lebanese officials must first and foremost consider national interests, not suited to America and Israel! What is happening in Syria clearly shows Israel to exploit the weaknesses of its neighbours and attack them, and that other than the logic of power can stop it.