Israeli Prime Minister BenjaminNetanyahu has threatened to make Beirut and southern Lebanon look like Gaza if the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah "decides to start an all-out war" against Israel.
It was during an event on the border with Lebanon, where there is still crossfire between Israel and militias on Lebanese territory. This afternoon resulted in the death of a 60-year-old Israeli civilian by an anti-tank missile.
Netanyahu was accompanied by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi.
This afternoon Hezbollah said in a statement that its members attacked Israeli territory, in a dynamic of exchange of fire that has been taking place since almost the outbreak of the war between Israel and Hamas, on October 7, which caused a peak of tension and the opening of another front on the border with Lebanon.
"If Hezbollah decides to start an all-out war, then it will single-handedly turn Beirut and southern Lebanon, not far from here, into Gaza and Khan Younis," Netanyahu said Thursday, in an assessment of the situation in the northern command, his office said in a statement.
Netanyahu added that Israel's will is to "restore security" on the northern border with Lebanon, and urged Israel's enemies "to pay attention."
On Thursday, Israel also bombed Lebanese territory from the ground and air after the launch of several projectiles from Lebanon that they attributed to Hezbollah, in the framework of the hostilities that have been going on for almost two months.
It was the biggest spike in tension since the 2006 war that pitted Israel against the Shiite group. So far, some 123 deaths have been recorded: 11 in Israel - seven soldiers and four civilians - and at least 112 in Lebanon, including 81 Hezbollah members, 12 Palestinian militia members, two soldiers and 17 civilians - including three journalists and three children.
Israel has evacuated more than 60,000 people from northern communities, while violence has displaced some 55,000 in Lebanon.
Israel's defense minister said Wednesday that Israel will take action against Hezbollah in Lebanon as it slows its offensive in Gaza to move it away from the border and prevent close-quarters attacks like those that have been taking place.
D.D.