Israeli minister: Fire will spread across Lebanon if Hezbollah persists

Israel Katz met with Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and warned that Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem is “playing with fire,” according to remarks issued by the minister’s office.

“Naim Qassem is playing with fire, and [President Joseph] Aoun is gambling with Lebanon’s future. There will be no reality of a ceasefire in Lebanon alongside fire on our forces and on the communities of the Galilee,” Katz told Hennis-Plasschaert.

Katz further warned that “if the Lebanese government continues to shelter under the shadow of the Hezbollah terror organisation, fire will burn the cedars of Lebanon.”

“The fire will burn Hezbollah and all of Lebanon,” he added.

“The Lebanese government must ensure that Hezbollah is disarmed, first of all south of the Litani [River]… and afterward throughout all of Lebanon,” Katz said.

Despite the declared ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, Israeli forces and Hezbollah have continued to exchange fire, with both sides accusing each other of violating the truce. Sunday marked the deadliest day for Lebanon’s civilian population since the ceasefire began, with 14 civilians killed across the country, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.

On Monday, April 27, Benjamin Netanyahu told senior Israeli military officials that Israel is permitted to continue military operations within the framework of the current ceasefire agreement, adding that the country has not yet achieved its military objectives.

“We are carrying out strikes, as we are doing now, in the security zone, north of the security zone, and north of the Litani River,” Netanyahu said. “Our freedom of action to counter threats — both immediate and emerging — is part of the agreement we have concluded with the United States, as well as with the Lebanese government.”

By Tamilla Hasanova