Media: Israeli PM orders ministers to silence Amid escalating tensions with Hezbollah

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed ministers to refrain from giving interviews amid escalating tensions with the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah.

Israeli ministers and Knesset (parliament) members from Netanyahu's Likud party were instructed to refrain from comments on September 18, due to the situation surrounding cyberattacks in Lebanon, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

This directive was reported by The Jerusalem Post.

Netanyahu addressed his fellow citizens for the first time following the incidents involving the explosions of pagers belonging to members of the Shiite group "Hezbollah" in Lebanon, promising to restore security in the northern region of the country.  

"I have already stated that we will successfully bring the residents of the north back to their homes. And that is precisely what we will do," Netanyahu said in a brief 10-second statement, the video of which was shared by the prime minister's office. 

This was Netanyahu's first public statement since the incidents involving the detonation of communication devices used by members of the Shiite movement Hezbollah in Lebanon. 

On September 17, numerous pagers exploded almost simultaneously across various regions of Lebanon.   The Shiite movement Hezbollah has blamed Israel for orchestrating the explosions, threatening a "just response." The Lebanese government has also accused Israel of being responsible for the incidents. However, officials from the Israeli government have not directly commented on the situation.

By Naila Huseynova