Israel issues 'implicit ultimatum' to Lebanon
The Wall Street Journal noted that, amid escalating conflict with Lebanon's Hezbollah movement, Israel is leveraging its intelligence and military superiority to issue an implicit ultimatum to Lebanon: either withdraw its armed forces from Israel's northern border or begin war.

The American publication noted: “In relation to the escalating campaign targeting numerous Hezbollah members, commanders, and infrastructure, Israel is leveraging its military and intelligence superiority to issue an implicit ultimatum: Sign an agreement to withdraw troops from Israel’s northern border, or war will begin.”
To date, U.S. officials remain determined to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, one that could force the Lebanese armed group to voluntarily withdraw its forces from the Israeli border and return to the demarcation line agreed upon after the 2006 war. According to the Wall Street Journal, Israeli officials have stated that these negotiations have reached a deadlock, "and there is no time left to seek a solution other than war."
Meanwhile, the Israeli military announced that more than 100 projectiles were fired from Lebanon in the early morning of September 22, while firefighters were battling fires caused by falling shells in northern Israel. According to the announcement, the Israeli military stated that "approximately 20 projectiles were identified flying from Lebanon" around 5:00 AM local time on September 22, followed by a barrage of "approximately 85 projectiles" launched from Lebanon. The military added that missiles were also fired during the night. Four people were injured by falling shrapnel during the night.
The Israeli military also issued a statement regarding attacks from the east. The military stated overnight that "multiple suspicious aerial targets" approached Israel from the direction of Iraq, but affirmed that the targets were intercepted and caused no casualties.
Also on September 22, Hezbollah claimed to have targeted military production facilities in northern Israel in retaliation for this week's explosions targeting Hezbollah communications equipment that killed dozens and injured nearly 3,000.


