Jerusalem: Two Israeli Cabinet ministers have made strong calls for resuming aggressive military actions against Lebanon, including cutting electricity and demolishing buildings in Beirut. This comes as tensions continue to rise between Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group.
According to Anadolu Agency, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has urged for drastic measures, including the occupation of the Zahrani River and a return to full-scale military operations in Lebanon. Ben-Gvir emphasized the need for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to assertively convey Israel's stance to US President Donald Trump, advocating for a renewed conflict in Lebanon.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the necessity of countering the threat posed by Hezbollah's explosive drones. Smotrich announced the approval of a special budget amounting to approximately 2 billion Israeli shekels (around $693,000) to enhance Israel's defense capabilities. He argued that in response to each drone attack, Israel should demolish ten buildings in Beirut, signaling a need for decisive retaliatory actions.
The ministers' statements followed reports by public broadcaster KAN, which highlighted that Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir had called for renewed strikes on Beirut during a recent Israeli Security Cabinet meeting. These discussions were reportedly a response to Hezbollah's drone attacks, which have continued despite a US-mediated ceasefire.
KAN also aired footage of Hezbollah utilizing advanced FPV suicide drones equipped with fiber-optic guidance technology and thermal cameras. This development suggests an increased capability for Hezbollah to conduct nighttime operations against Israeli forces.
Netanyahu, addressing the ongoing threat, vowed to deliver severe retaliations against Hezbollah. He revealed that a special team is currently working on strategies to counter the growing challenge of detecting and neutralizing the drones used by the militant group.
Incidents of drone strikes continue to occur, with Israel's Channel 12 reporting a drone attack on a building in the settlement of Shomera, which resulted in a fire but no casualties. Another incident involved a drone striking the roof of a house in the Upper Galilee settlement of Metula, causing minor injuries.
Despite the ceasefire agreement facilitated by the US in April, Israeli military actions in Lebanon have persisted, contributing to a significant humanitarian crisis. Lebanese officials report that since March 2, Israeli bombardments have resulted in nearly 3,200 deaths, over 9,600 injuries, and the displacement of 1.6 million people amid ongoing cross-border hostilities with Hezbollah.