Israel and Hezbollah: Netanyahu says ready for ‘very powerful’ action as tensions rise with militant group on Lebanon border

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned this Wednesday that his security forces were ready to launch a “very powerful” response along the border with Lebanon.

The objective of this new operation – may take place at the same time as the war in Gaza Hezbollah is a militant group based in LebanonIt has intensified attacks on Israeli territory in recent days and sparked clashes with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

“Those who think they can harm us and we will be idle are very wrong,” Netanyahu said as he visited Kiryat Shmona, one of the Israeli towns near the demarcated border. Missile and drone strikes.

Hezbollah, a powerful pro-Iranian Islamist group based in Beirut, has claimed responsibility for many of the attacks. One of them occurred in the past few hours, injuring a dozen Israelis.

“We cannot accept the continuation of the situation in the north and it will not continue. We will return the residents to their homes and restore their security,” Netanyahu said, outlining a possible offensive against Hezbollah.

In recent days, Hezbollah rockets have also been launched forest fire In northern Israel, it was worsened by high temperatures recorded in the region.

The historic conflict along the border between Israel and Lebanon has escalated since last October, after the Palestinian group Hamas launched an offensive against Israel in retaliation for a large-scale attack on the Gaza Strip.

Violence between Israelis and Lebanese has already subsided 455 people died in LebanonMostly fightersas well as 88 civilians, according to an AFP tally. For Israel’s part, the military says at least 14 soldiers and 11 civilians.

According to the newspaper The Times of IsraelAbout 60,000 people Areas on the northern border of Israel Displaced from their homes Since October due to cross-border attacks with Lebanon.

Netanyahu’s statements came a day after IDF Chief of Staff Herzey Halevi announced that he was close to making a decision on how to deal with Hezbollah.

Armed forces, he said “Ready and ready to attack”.

The leadership of the Israeli government decides whether this new measure is necessary Just started or after finishing Gaza.

According to Israeli media reports, Netanyahu wants to concentrate forces in Gaza, but faces pressure from other members of the National Unity Cabinet to act now on the northern border with Lebanon.

Defense Minister Ithamar Ben-GirKnown for its far-right stances, this week it called for “burning down all Hezbollah strongholds: Destruction, war!”.

However, other cabinet members are more measured. Analysts say the war with Hezbollah will be a more difficult and dangerous conflict than the one in Gaza.

Sheikh Naim Qasim, Hezbollah’s second-in-command, told broadcaster Al Jazeera. The group does not seek to escalate the conflict with Israel. But there will be no increase “Disaster,” he replied.