Following overnight attacks launched against Lebanon, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has declared that all “all of Lebanon must burn”. “With all due respect to the Americans, Israel must make it clear to the entire world that the blood of our sons and the security of our citizens are not up for bargaining. All of Lebanon must burn,” said Ben Gvir, the far right minister whose support is critical to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government on Friday.
As many as 18 were killed and several injured after IDF launched attacks against Lebanon on Friday as the US Iran talks in Switzerland get postponed. Israel launched overnight strikes in the southern region of Lebanon triggering intense clashes with Hezbollah, according to Lebanese authorities. The recently signed agreement between Iran and the United States to end their war, as the deal calls for an immediate halt to military operations “on all fronts, including in Lebanon”.
Local media reported, IDF hit multiple locations while aiming to target Hezbollah fighters and infrastructure in response to repeated violations of the ceasefire by the Iran-backed group. Residents and domestic media said Israeli airstrikes and shelling hit several towns in the Nabatieh district overnight and into early Friday, in a bombardment that NNA said was among the heaviest in recent weeks.
The attacks come a day after Israel published a map showing an expanded military control zone in southern Lebanon beyond which it said it would not rule out attacks, raising questions over Wednesday’s U.S. interim peace deal with Iran.
A senior Israeli official revealed that Israel was engaged in “stubborn negotiations” with U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration over keeping troops deployed 10 km (6.2 miles) inside southern Lebanon as it pursues Hezbollah. However, it rejected calls to withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah has kept up attacks on Israeli positions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israeli troops will stay there until the threat from Hezbollah has been eliminated.