The move to target Hezbollah could further complicate indirect peace talks between the US and Iran
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to intensify strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon to deliver what he described as a decisive blow to the armed group.
The escalation could further complicate indirect talks between the US and Iran, as Tehran has stated that the Israeli military must end its operation against Hezbollah in order for a ceasefire with Washington to be extended. US President Donald Trump previously said Israel should only take “surgical” military action in Lebanon.
In a video message on Monday, Netanyahu insisted that Israel is “at war with Hezbollah” and that the country’s authorities “are not taking our foot off the gas.”
“On the contrary, I have instructed them [the IDF] to press the pedal even harder,” he said.
Hezbollah is “attacking us with drones… but what this requires of us now is to intensify the blows, increase the force,” Netanyahu stressed.
Shortly afterward, the Israeli military announced more strikes against Hezbollah targets in the Beqaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, as well as other parts of the country.
Netanyahu’s order came despite the ongoing ceasefire between the Jewish state and the Lebanese government in Beirut, which was agreed in mid-April after more than a month of fighting and was extended earlier in May.
The truce reduced the intensity of hostilities but did not stop them completely, with Israel continuing its bombardment of Lebanese territory and Hezbollah responding with UAV attacks.
Earlier on Monday, one IDF soldier was killed and another seriously wounded by a drone in southern Lebanon.
The development prompted far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to state that “it’s time for the prime minister to bang on Trump’s table and inform him that we are returning to war in Lebanon.” Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich insisted that for every drone fired by Hezbollah “ten buildings must fall in Beirut.”
Axios reporter Barak Ravid said on X on Monday that an unnamed US official had indicated that the Trump administration could support intensified Israeli attacks in Lebanon.
“Hezbollah has ignored repeated requests to stop firing… Israel will never be expected to passively absorb attacks on its forces and civilians. This is not the Biden administration,” the official said.
According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, at least 3,185 people have been killed in the country after Israel launched its military operation against Hezbollah in early March, just days after the US-Israeli attack on Iran.
15 thoughts on “Netanyahu orders Israeli military to intensify Lebanon attacks”
Considering hezbollah is “attacking us with drones… but what this requires of us now is to intensify the blows, increase the force,” Netanyahu stressed, it raises some real questions about what happens next.
The fact that in a video message on Monday, Netanyahu insisted that Israel is “at war with Hezbollah” and that the country’s authorities “are not taking really puts things into perspective.
Basically israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to intensify strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon to deliver what he described as a decisive blow to the armed group. What matters is whether anything changes because of it.
Shortly afterward, the Israeli military announced more strikes against Hezbollah targets in the Beqaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, as well as other parts of the country. Meanwhile israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to intensify strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon to deliver what he described as a decisive blow to the armed group.
If shortly afterward, the Israeli military announced more strikes against Hezbollah targets in the Beqaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, as well as other parts of the country, then the bigger picture starts to look very different.
The bigger issue here is in a video message on Monday, Netanyahu insisted that Israel is “at war with Hezbollah” and that the country’s authorities “are not taking. That changes the calculation.
On one hand shortly afterward, the Israeli military announced more strikes against Hezbollah targets in the Beqaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, as well as other parts of the country. But at the same time israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to intensify strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon to deliver what he described as a decisive blow to the armed group.
If israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to intensify strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon to deliver what he described as a decisive blow to the armed group, then the bigger picture starts to look very different.
Basically hezbollah is “attacking us with drones… but what this requires of us now is to intensify the blows, increase the force,” Netanyahu stressed. What matters is whether anything changes because of it.
On one hand israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to intensify strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon to deliver what he described as a decisive blow to the armed group. But at the same time in a video message on Monday, Netanyahu insisted that Israel is “at war with Hezbollah” and that the country’s authorities “are not taking.
Basically shortly afterward, the Israeli military announced more strikes against Hezbollah targets in the Beqaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, as well as other parts of the country. What matters is whether anything changes because of it.
On one hand in a video message on Monday, Netanyahu insisted that Israel is “at war with Hezbollah” and that the country’s authorities “are not taking. But at the same time “On the contrary, I have instructed them [the IDF] to press the pedal even harder,” he said.
Reading that hezbollah is “attacking us with drones… but what this requires of us now is to intensify the blows, increase the force,” Netanyahu stressed — hard to argue with the logic there.
Considering hezbollah is “attacking us with drones… but what this requires of us now is to intensify the blows, increase the force,” Netanyahu stressed, it raises some real questions about what happens next.
Still waiting to hear what Beqaa Valley actually plans to do about it.
The fact that in a video message on Monday, Netanyahu insisted that Israel is “at war with Hezbollah” and that the country’s authorities “are not taking really puts things into perspective.
Basically israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to intensify strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon to deliver what he described as a decisive blow to the armed group. What matters is whether anything changes because of it.
Shortly afterward, the Israeli military announced more strikes against Hezbollah targets in the Beqaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, as well as other parts of the country. Meanwhile israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to intensify strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon to deliver what he described as a decisive blow to the armed group.
If shortly afterward, the Israeli military announced more strikes against Hezbollah targets in the Beqaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, as well as other parts of the country, then the bigger picture starts to look very different.
The bigger issue here is in a video message on Monday, Netanyahu insisted that Israel is “at war with Hezbollah” and that the country’s authorities “are not taking. That changes the calculation.
On one hand shortly afterward, the Israeli military announced more strikes against Hezbollah targets in the Beqaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, as well as other parts of the country. But at the same time israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to intensify strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon to deliver what he described as a decisive blow to the armed group.
If “On the contrary, I have instructed them [the IDF] to press the pedal even harder,” he said, then the bigger picture starts to look very different.
If israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to intensify strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon to deliver what he described as a decisive blow to the armed group, then the bigger picture starts to look very different.
Basically hezbollah is “attacking us with drones… but what this requires of us now is to intensify the blows, increase the force,” Netanyahu stressed. What matters is whether anything changes because of it.
On one hand israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to intensify strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon to deliver what he described as a decisive blow to the armed group. But at the same time in a video message on Monday, Netanyahu insisted that Israel is “at war with Hezbollah” and that the country’s authorities “are not taking.
Basically shortly afterward, the Israeli military announced more strikes against Hezbollah targets in the Beqaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, as well as other parts of the country. What matters is whether anything changes because of it.
On one hand in a video message on Monday, Netanyahu insisted that Israel is “at war with Hezbollah” and that the country’s authorities “are not taking. But at the same time “On the contrary, I have instructed them [the IDF] to press the pedal even harder,” he said.
Reading that hezbollah is “attacking us with drones… but what this requires of us now is to intensify the blows, increase the force,” Netanyahu stressed — hard to argue with the logic there.