The escalation on the southern front has become the main issue between Hezbollah and Israel, accompanied by repeated and intense breaches of the sound barrier in Lebanese airspace.
In preparation for any emergencies, Prime Minister Najib Mikati has been closely monitoring the current situation and reviewing the readiness of Lebanese ministries and administrations.
Regarding the developments, the Maronite bishops have expressed their concern over the potential repercussions of the war in Gaza and southern Lebanon, which could lead to widespread violence driven by foreign interests unrelated to the country. They stressed that the only solution to bring about calm and stability is the implementation of United Nations resolutions, especially Resolution 1701.
Politically, in a move that was not unexpected, Deputy Simon Abi Ramia resigned from the Free Patriotic Movement.
Regionally, as the responses from Hezbollah and Iran are awaited, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that "Nasrallah might drag Lebanon into paying very high costs." He warned that something unimaginable and beyond logic could occur, adding, "We will expand our operations, which might lead to a broader conflict if necessary."
As the region faces the threat of an expanding conflict, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced readiness "to defend and attack equally."
For his part, the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army confirmed that "we have the capability to launch a rapid attack anywhere… in Lebanon, throughout Gaza, across the Middle East, above and below ground." He vowed to locate and eliminate Yahya Sinwar, who has been named head of Hamas' political bureau.
In parallel, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian assured French President Emmanuel Macron that Iran would never remain silent in the face of aggression against its interests and security.
Internationally, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy warned that Israel and Lebanon are on the brink of war, stating, "If we do not exercise restraint, we will see catastrophic results that benefit no one."
As international parties seek to avoid escalation in the Middle East, French President Emmanuel Macron urged Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to do everything possible to prevent escalation in the region and to halt the cycle of revenge.
Meanwhile, the White House indicated that the U.S. government "believes the Iranians when they say they will respond to the aggression."
Furthermore, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby announced that "our stance on negotiations has not changed with the appointment of Sinwar."
Economically, the oil and gas sector in Arab countries attracted 610 projects carried out by 356 foreign and Arab companies in the region, with a total investment cost of $406 billion from January 2003 to May 2024. The United States led as the top investor in the Arab oil and gas sector in terms of the number of projects, with 85 projects representing about 14 percent of the total.
