A senior security official told Al-Jumhuriya newspaper that messages had reached those concerned in Lebanon, indicating that Israel was preparing to wage a battle to occupy the Ali Al-Taher Hills, and was now highly prepared, awaiting the American signal. This official revealed that the American side, in turn, informed the authority that it would not be able to prevent the Israelis completely, but rather asked it to be a precise surgical operation with a minimum of bombing and intimidation of civilians, and in a way that would not undermine the framework agreement. The source added: “The Israelis need this achievement and will not back down from it,” noting that the eye is on Hezbollah’s reaction, whether it engages in a bone-breaking battle or deals with the matter in a way that does not provide the enemy with justification for launching a large-scale battle and redisplaces villages and towns. The source saw that “this battle has become a matter of time, and is racing against the Iranian-American agreement that has become imminent, which will inevitably have a direct impact on the southern front.” Meanwhile, diplomatic sources told Al-Jumhuriya that the US administration is keen to revive the framework formula process, through its diplomatic pressure and the field shuttle movement led by General Clearfield on the Beirut-Tel Aviv line. Washington's movement is focused on two directions: Israel's withdrawal from the south, albeit gradually, and the disarmament of Hezbollah.