Senior officials from the US, France and Saudi Arabia will meet in Paris on Wednesday amid fears that Israel could embark on a new military operation against Hezbollah in Lebanon after a December 31 deadline to disarm the Iran-backed terror group passes, a diplomatic official told The Times of Israel on Tuesday.

The meeting is due to take place as Israeli strikes against Hezbollah infrastructure and activity have continued in the year-plus since a ceasefire took effect between the sides. Israel carried out two such strikes in succession on Tuesday.

The ceasefire required both Israel and Hezbollah to vacate southern Lebanon, to be replaced by the Lebanese military. Israel has withdrawn from all but five strategic posts along the border.

Israel says the strikes are against Hezbollah attempts to rebuild its strength following the war, and that the Lebanese army is not moving fast enough to take away the terror group’s weapons.

Against that backdrop, the aim of the meeting between US, French and Saudi representatives, the official said, is to “share notes” on how to prevent another outbreak of war in Lebanon. The US will be represented by Morgan Ortagus, the American special representative for Lebanon, while French President Emmanuel Macron’s Middle East adviser Anne-Claire Legendre will head the French side.

The official added that, as in........

© The Times of Israel