Netanyahu denounces the ceasefire violation and orders a heavy attack on Hezbollah in Lebanon
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday ordered the military to launch a major offensive against the pro-Iranian Shiite group Hezbollah in Lebanon.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to launch a strong attack against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon,” his office said in a short statement broadcast on Saturday evening, EFE and Agerpres report.
The announcement comes after the Israeli military reported on Saturday that two projectiles and a drone had been fired from Lebanon into Israeli territory, in what was described by the Shiite group Hezbollah as a “flagrant violation” of the ceasefire in place, in which Israeli forces carry out daily attacks on Lebanese territory.
In another statement, the Israeli military reported further attacks on Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon, including an arms depot.
“The IDF will continue to act decisively against threats directed against the Israeli civilian population and soldiers, in accordance with the directives of the High Command,” said the statement published before Prime Minister Netanyahu's announcement.
The Israeli army also warned displaced residents of southern Lebanon not to return to their homes in about 60 towns and villages as its troops remain stationed there.
At least six people have been killed and 17 wounded in fresh Israeli attacks on towns in southern Lebanon, bringing the death toll in the Israeli offensive to nearly 2,500 in the past seven weeks.
