“Restore security”
Netanyahu's statements fuel concerns about further war
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Since Hamas's attack on Israel last year, the country has also been in conflict with Hezbollah, which has since been attacking from Lebanon. Because the attacks don't stop, the signs point to war more than ever. Israel could make a decision on this soon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has emphasized the combat readiness of the Israeli army in view of the military tensions on the border with Lebanon. “Anyone who believes that they can harm us and that we would respond by doing nothing is making a big mistake,” said Netanyahu, according to his office, during a visit to the town of Kiryat Shmona, which was particularly affected by shelling from the neighboring country, where he met soldiers and firefighters .
He praised them for their work in the area where, according to Israeli media reports, rocket and drone attacks by the Lebanese Hezbollah militia had sparked fires in recent days. Netanyahu added that Israel was prepared for an intensive crackdown in the north of the country. “One way or another we will restore security in the north,” he said.
Israel's chief of staff, Herzi Halevi, said they were approaching the point at which a decision would have to be made on how Israel would deal with Hezbollah's recent increased shelling. The armed forces are ready for such a decision: “Strong defense, readiness for an offensive, we are approaching the moment of a decision.”
Since the war in Gaza began almost eight months ago, there have been daily military confrontations between the Israeli army and the Hezbollah militia and other groups in the border area between Israel and Lebanon. There were deaths on both sides. Mutual shelling caused severe destruction and sparked fires in towns on both sides of the border. Around 150,000 people in both countries were evacuated or left areas affected by the fighting.
Hezbollah is allied with the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip, but is considered significantly more powerful. Israel wants to use military and diplomatic pressure to ensure that Hezbollah withdraws behind the Litani River, 30 kilometers from the border, in accordance with a UN resolution. However, Hezbollah is not expected to stop shelling as long as the Gaza war continues.
