PNW STAFF
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned on Wednesday of the potential outbreak of a wider conflict with Hezbollah, as the Iranian-backed terror group continued to launch rockets and drones at the Jewish state.
Gallant made the comments during a situation assessment with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi at the military's Northern Command.
"We are achieving readiness on land and in the air, strengthening our intelligence systems and preparing for every scenario," said Gallant. "We must all remember that Hezbollah started a war against us on Oct. 8, a day after Hamas attacked Israel, and since then, it has not stopped. We have an obligation to change the situation in the north, and to ensure the safe return of our citizens to their homes, and we will find a way to achieve this," he added.
"Hezbollah's increasing aggression is bringing us to the brink of what could be a wider escalation, one that could have devastating consequences for Lebanon and the entire region," IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in an English-language video statement.
"When we say that we will not let October 7th happen again on any one of our borders, we mean it," Hagari added.
Noting Hezbollah's "refusal to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 1701," which ended the Second Lebanon War and mandated that the terror group withdraw north of the Litani River, Hagari said that "because of Hezbollah's military infrastructure, weapons and fire at Israel from the area south of the Litani River in southern Lebanon, and because of Lebanon's failure to enforce 1701 on Hezbollah, Israel will take the necessary measures to protect its civilians, until security along our border with Lebanon is restored."
Hagari warned that "one way or another we will ensure the safe and secure return of Israelis to their homes in northern Israel. That is not up for negotiation."
The Israel Defense Forces' Northern Command announced on Tuesday the approval of operational plans for a war against Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon and are now prepared for the next steps when they should come.
Hezbollah and Israel have been escalating cross-border strikes for weeks. After rocket attacks caused massive fires in the north of the country, Israel last week killed commander Taleb Abdullah, the most senior official killed in the fighting. Hezbollah responded with unprecedented rocket barrages on northern Israel.
No comments:
Post a Comment