Israel threatens “intensive war” if Hezbollah violates agreement

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened this Thursday to return to an open war against Hezbollah in Lebanon, less than 48 hours after the start of the truce, if the pro-Iran group extensively violates the ceasefire conditions.

“If there is a major violation of the agreement, we will not only operate surgically as we are doing now,” Netanyahu said in an interview with the far-right Channel 14. “If there is a major violation of the agreement, I ordered the Armed Forces to prepare for an intensive war.” ”he added.

In the interview, Netanyahu stressed that the ceasefire in Lebanon “may be brief” and that Israel “enforced it on its first day.””, according to statements reported by the Times of Israel newspaper.

The agreement states that “these commitments do not prevent Israel or Lebanon from exercising their inherent right of self-defense, in accordance with International Law.”

Netanyahu already said on Tuesday night, November 26, when announcing the agreement, that Israel would “maintain full freedom of military action” in Lebanon “with the full understanding of the United States.” Lebanese authorities said they opposed any violation of their sovereignty.

The residents of the north “will return in stages, when they feel that what I say is true,” the president predicted, according to the Israeli press, about the 60,000 displaced people from the north, many of them critical of the end of this war.

Pressure on Israel

The second day of the truce was marred by disagreement between the parties over Israel’s right to attack Hezbollah if it considers that the militants have violated the agreement.something that Netanyahu points out as a prerequisite, but that Lebanese and Hezbollah officials reject.

The Lebanese Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, urged this Thursday in a call with the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, that the international community increase pressure on Israel, considering that it violated the agreement after carrying out air raids and attacks with various weapons against Lebanese territory.

For its part, The Israeli Army today accused Hezbollah of having broken the conditions of the agreement and confirmed having attacked two alleged militants inside a building “used to fire dozens of projectiles at Israel last month,” in addition to other airstrikes against weapons in southern Lebanon.

The deal, brokered by the United States and France, includes an initial two-month ceasefire during which Hezbollah will withdraw north of the Litani River and Israeli forces will leave Lebanon, making way for Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers. along the border.

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