Israel promises to pursue Hezbollah in Lebanon even if a cease-fire with Hamas in Gaza is achieved.
Israel's Defense Minister pledges to escalate strikes on Hezbollah despite ceasefire discussions with Hamas in Gaza. Get the latest updates on the ongoing conflict.
Amid ceasefire negotiations with Hamas in Gaza, Israel's Defense Minister affirmed on Sunday a determination to increase military actions against Lebanon's Hezbollah, underlining a separate agenda for the northern front. Yoav Gallant dismissed any assumptions that a ceasefire for Gaza would extend to the Lebanese border, asserting an independent pursuit of objectives. The primary goal remains to push Hezbollah away from Israel's border, whether through diplomatic channels or by military means.
The conflict escalated when Hamas initiated hostilities in Gaza, prompting immediate retaliation from Hezbollah. The ensuing barrage of rocket attacks from Hezbollah and Israeli airstrikes has uprooted tens of thousands of civilians along the Israel-Lebanon border, perpetuating a cycle of violence and displacement.
Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, indicated a willingness to adhere to a ceasefire in southern Lebanon if an agreement is reached in Gaza. However, Nasrallah warned of resumed and intensified attacks should Israel persist in targeting Lebanon post-Gaza ceasefire.
Recent Israeli airstrikes in the Lebanon-Syria border region reportedly resulted in the deaths of five Hezbollah members, exacerbating tensions. While the Israeli military refrained from acknowledging specific strikes, it confirmed targeting sites in southern Lebanon in response to missile launches and a "terrorist cell" in Blida.
Amid nearly five months of sustained clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, casualties have mounted on both sides. Diplomatic efforts led by the US and European nations aim to mitigate the border conflict through proposals centered on a Hezbollah withdrawal, bolstered Lebanese military presence, and delineation of disputed border points.
France's latest proposal suggests a Hezbollah retreat of 10 kilometers from the border, pending a Lebanese government review. However, both Lebanon and Hezbollah underscored a prerequisite for the Gaza ceasefire before engaging in border negotiations.
