The entire south of Lebanon will become a 'death zone for Hezbollah terrorists'

The Chief of the General Staff of the Israeli Army, General Eyal Zamir, announced on Wednesday that the entire south of Lebanon would become a “death zone for Hezbollah terrorists.” He added that he had approved new plans to fight this group. He also reported that over 1,700 Hezbollah members were killed during the month-and-a-half-long campaign.

– Yesterday, together with the General Staff, I approved future plans. We continue to assess the situation on an ongoing basis and approve plans for both Lebanon and Iran, said Zamir, quoted by the Times of Israel.

The commander visited soldiers fighting in southern Lebanon on Wednesday. The Israeli army launched an operation against Hezbollah in early March, conducting airstrikes in Lebanon as well as ground operations in the south of that country.

The conflict erupted after Iran-backed Hezbollah began attacking Israel's north again. This, in turn, was a reaction to the American-Israeli strikes against Iran that began on February 28.

A ceasefire has been in place in the conflict with Iran for a week, which expires on April 21. Its extension is uncertain. The agreement did not stop the fighting in Lebanon.

The government in Beirut, which does not control Hezbollah, is seeking a truce and has ordered the group to lay down its weapons, which it refuses to do.

The first direct talks between Israel and Lebanon in decades took place in Washington on Tuesday. The countries do not maintain official diplomatic relations. There is no further information about the arrangements from this meeting. The head of the Israeli delegation and the country's ambassador to the US, Jechiel Leiter, said after the talks that the governments in Jerusalem and Beirut were “on the same side” against Hezbollah.

Israeli officials previously announced that the army would not withdraw from the offensive until the security of the north of Israel attacked by Hezbollah was ensured.

Two senior Lebanese officials told Reuters on Wednesday that efforts to reach a truce were ongoing and the U.S. was pressing Israel on the issue. The Israeli government is scheduled to meet on Wednesday evening. According to the media, a possible ceasefire may be discussed.

The Israeli offensive forced more than a million people to flee southern Lebanon. The entire country has approximately 6 million inhabitants.

Israeli attacks killed 2,167 people, including 260 children and 172 women, Lebanon's health ministry said. It was added that three medical workers died on Wednesday alone. The office does not indicate in its announcements what part of the 1,735 killed men were Hezbollah fighters.

Zamir said Wednesday that more than 1,700 Hezbollah members have been killed since the beginning of the ongoing campaign.

Thirteen Israeli soldiers were also killed in the fighting in Lebanon, and two civilians were killed in Hezbollah attacks on northern Israel, Reuters added. (PAP)

adj/rtt/