Israel warns of continued strikes on Lebanon amid Hezbollah tensions
Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a stark warning on Friday, stating that Israel will persist in its strikes against Lebanon until the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah is disarmed. This announcement follows recent Israeli airstrikes that targeted areas in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
“There will be no calm in Beirut, and no order or stability in Lebanon, without security for the State of Israel. Agreements must be honored, and if you do not do what is required, we will continue to act, and with great force,” Katz declared in a statement.
His comments were a direct response to the condemnation from Lebanese President Joseph Aoun regarding the airstrikes conducted on Thursday evening in south Beirut.
Aoun characterized the strikes as a “flagrant violation” of the ceasefire established in November and noted that they occurred “on the eve of a sacred religious festival”—the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday. He described the attacks as “irrefutable proof of the aggressor’s refusal... of a just peace in our region.”
The Israeli military targeted a building in Beirut’s southern suburbs, claiming it was being utilized by Hezbollah to produce drones, following prior warnings issued on social media.
Prior to the ceasefire, Israel and Hezbollah had been embroiled in hostilities for over a year, culminating in two months of intense warfare. The November 27 agreement stipulated that Hezbollah fighters must withdraw north of the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the Israeli border, and dismantle all military infrastructure situated to the south.
While the agreement required Israel to withdraw all its troops from Lebanon, it has maintained a presence in five positions deemed “strategic.” Furthermore, Israeli forces have continued to execute strikes against Hezbollah targets both south and north of the Litani River.
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