Israeli Minister Benny Gantz has issued a stern warning to Hezbollah and Lebanon, stating that Israel will take action to remove Hezbollah from the border if their attacks continue. This announcement follows escalating cross-border fire exchanges since Hamas’s attacks on Israel on October 7. The recent spike in violence has seen Hezbollah intensifying its assaults, including the most significant number of attacks in a day since October 8, according to security sources.
Gantz emphasized the urgency of the situation, indicating that time for a diplomatic solution is dwindling. The Israeli military is maintaining a state of “very high readiness” for potential further conflict in the north, as stated by Lt Gen Herzi Halevi, Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces.
Fighting on the Israeli-Lebanese border earlier this week. AFP
The conflict in Gaza, which has seen significant civilian casualties, including the deaths of more than 100 people in Lebanon and at least 13 in Israel, has raised concerns about a broader regional conflict. The recent hostilities have also involved the use of weaponized drones by Hezbollah and responsive actions by Israeli warplanes.
This situation has historical roots, with tensions between Hezbollah and Israel tracing back to the 2006 war, triggered by Hezbollah’s cross-border raid and Israel’s subsequent military invasion of southern Lebanon. Hezbollah, funded by Iran and designated a terrorist organization by Western states, Israel, Gulf Arab countries, and the Arab League, stands as one of the most heavily-armed non-state military forces in the world.
Pro-Iranian Hezbollah fighters take part in a military exercise in Aramta, Lebanon, May 21, 2023. picture alliance via Getty Images)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously stated that Israel would respond decisively to a full-blown war initiated by Hezbollah, likening potential retaliation to the situation in Gaza and Khan Yunis. The Lebanese government, on the other hand, maintains that it is on the receiving end of the aggression and calls for de-escalation from all sides.
In the midst of these developments, the UN peacekeeping force, Unifil, operating in southern Lebanon since 1978, has urged Lebanese authorities to investigate an attack on one of its patrols in Taybeh, further highlighting the tension in the region.
