In simultaneous statements reported by Israeli media, Gallant stated that the Israeli army “will not allow any threat to the residents of the north,” and that Israel “will deepen the implementation of maximum measures in Lebanon,” stressing that his country “is working against any threat and will continue its operations until full security is achieved.”
The minister indicated that the ball is now in Beirut’s court, demanding that the Lebanese government fully commit to its international obligations “to disarm Hezbollah and confine weapons to the Lebanese state,” adding that evading this responsibility “will not grant Lebanon protection from any Israeli response.”
Gallant’s statements come after his threat on Saturday evening to target the capital, Beirut, if Hezbollah fired towards the northern settlements, stressing that Israel “carried out deep bombing inside Lebanon and killed about 300 members of the party since the signing of the ceasefire agreement.”
Earlier, Gallant explained in an interview with the Israeli Channel 14 that the Americans consider the Lebanese government “responsible for disarming the party,” adding: “We are giving them a chance to move, but we are not stopping the attack.”
This escalation coincides with increasing field tension on the Lebanese-Israeli border, where mutual raids and targeting are escalating, in parallel with American and French diplomatic moves aimed at preventing the deterioration of the situation into an all-out war.
