Israel has deployed its 91st Division to the northern border with Lebanon, according to the Israeli newspaper Maariv, in a move that signals heightened military readiness amid escalating regional tensions.
The 91st Division, the Israel Defense Forces’ primary formation responsible for operations along the Lebanese frontier, is tasked with confronting Hezbollah and securing Israel’s northern sector. Its deployment typically reflects elevated threat assessments and preparation for potential cross-border confrontation.
The development comes as the region grapples with rapidly unfolding military escalation involving Iran, raising concerns that Lebanon could once again become a secondary front in a broader conflict.
Lebanese Government Moves to Contain Escalation
In Beirut, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam issued a public appeal urging restraint. “Given the dangerous developments unfolding in the region, I once again call on all Lebanese to act with wisdom and patriotism, placing Lebanon’s interests above all considerations,” Salam wrote on X.
He added: “We will not accept that anyone drags the country into adventures that threaten its security and unity.” The statement appears aimed at preventing any unilateral military engagement that could pull Lebanon into a wider confrontation.
President Joseph Aoun also urged restraint, stressing that the country is entering a highly sensitive phase. “The current delicate phase requires everyone to fully commit to national responsibility and to prioritize Lebanon’s supreme national interest,” Aoun said in a statement.
He added that sparing Lebanon “from the disasters and horrors of external conflicts” and safeguarding its sovereignty, security and stability remain “an absolute priority.”
In parallel, the head of the Kataeb Party, Samy Gemayel, also weighed in, warning against any unilateral military action. “Lebanon’s interest comes before any axis, and the security of the Lebanese people must prevail over any external calculations,” Gemayel wrote on X. “Any attempt by Hezbollah to drag Lebanon into a confrontation in response to strikes on Iran requires firm action from the Lebanese Army.”
Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji echoed the call for restraint. “The national interest comes above all considerations. Neutrality for Lebanon. Neutrality for Lebanon. Neutrality for Lebanon,” he wrote on X.
Airspace Under Review
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Minister of Public Works and Transport, Fayez Rassamni, told MTV Lebanon that no decision has yet been made regarding the closure of Lebanese airspace.
“We are monitoring developments and will act accordingly,” he said, indicating that authorities are assessing the evolving security situation before taking further steps.
Strategic Implications
The deployment of Israel’s 91st Division suggests that Israeli military planners are preparing for potential northern escalation, particularly involving Hezbollah, which has previously signaled it would not remain neutral in the event of a major conflict affecting Iran.
For Lebanon, already weakened by economic crisis and political fragility, the prospect of becoming entangled in another regional war carries severe risks.
While there has been no direct confrontation yet along the border, there was an Israeli airstrike targeting southern Lebanon. Saturday’s developments underscore the volatility of the moment and the increasingly narrow margin for miscalculation.
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