Israel’s Defense Minister has issued a stark warning regarding the fragile ceasefire with Hezbollah, emphasizing potential repercussions if the truce falters.
Amidst rising tensions in the Middle East, Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, has cautioned that should the current ceasefire with Hezbollah collapse, Israel will undertake a broader military campaign targeting Lebanon itself. This statement follows recent Israeli airstrikes that reportedly resulted in the loss of nearly a dozen lives, responding to Hezbollah’s launch of projectiles allegedly as a reaction to previous Israeli breaches.
While addressing troops along the northern border, Katz insisted on a policy of ‘maximum response and zero tolerance’ towards any violations of the ceasefire. He made it clear that a resumption of hostilities would result in expanded Israeli military actions, extending beyond the regions typically associated with Hezbollah. Katz stressed that ‘there will no longer be an exemption for the state of Lebanon.’
The ongoing conflict escalated last year when Hezbollah initiated rocket, drone, and missile attacks on Israel, expressing solidarity with Hamas militants in Gaza. This escalation followed a significant assault by Hamas on southern Israel, which resulted in substantial civilian casualties and hostages.
Israel’s military response has been intense, with over 44,000 Palestinians reported dead in Gaza, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Israel claims to have killed over 17,000 militants, though evidence for this claim has not been provided. The conflict has devastated much of Gaza, displacing the vast majority of its population of 2.3 million, with many displaced multiple times.
In Lebanon, the national army is initiating a recruitment drive to strengthen its presence in the south amid the current 60-day truce. This move is part of a broader strategy to stabilize the region, which also involves United Nations peacekeepers and the withdrawal of Israeli ground forces, while Hezbollah is expected to relocate to positions north of the Litani River.
The Lebanese Parliament Speaker, Nabih Berri, a known Hezbollah supporter, has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement over 50 times. These alleged violations include airstrikes and the destruction of homes near the border.
Meanwhile, tensions in the region are compounded by incidents such as a recent drone strike near Damascus, which Syrian state media reported resulted in one casualty. This strike is part of a series of Israeli actions against Iran-backed militant entities in Syria and Lebanon, actions typically unacknowledged by Israeli officials.
In another development, Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, who suffered injuries from an attack involving exploding pagers, has resurfaced in the public eye. This attack, which caused significant casualties among Hezbollah ranks, was reportedly sanctioned by Israel’s Prime Minister.
The situation in the West Bank remains volatile as well, with recent Israeli airstrikes killing two Palestinians. Israeli military operations in the region, intended to preempt attacks, have led to hundreds of Palestinian deaths since the conflict began.
Israel’s warning to Lebanon illustrates the precarious nature of peace in the region. The situation requires careful handling to prevent a re-escalation of hostilities, emphasizing the delicate balance of military and diplomatic actions in the quest for stability.
Source: News4jax
