In a video message released on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning to the people of Lebanon, urging them to rid their country of Hezbollah or face “destruction and suffering” similar to the devastation in Gaza. Netanyahu’s message came amid escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militant group based in Lebanon.
“You have an opportunity to save Lebanon before it falls into the abyss of a long war that will lead to destruction and suffering like we see in Gaza,” Netanyahu said, calling on the Lebanese people to “free your country from Hezbollah so that this war can end.”
Netanyahu added that Hezbollah’s actions were drawing Lebanon into a wider conflict. “If you don’t, Hezbollah will continue to try to fight Israel from densely populated areas at your expense. It doesn’t care if Lebanon is dragged into a wider war,” he warned. The Israeli leader also claimed that Israeli forces had eliminated numerous terrorists, including Hezbollah’s leadership figures.
Israeli military officials suggested that Hezbollah’s leader-in-waiting, Hashem Safieddine, may have been killed in a recent airstrike in Beirut’s southern suburbs. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari reported that Israeli forces targeted Hezbollah’s headquarters in Beirut, and the results of the strike are still being investigated. “Hezbollah is trying to hide the details,” Hagari said. The group has not confirmed Safieddine’s fate.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah threatened to intensify its rocket attacks on Israeli cities, including Haifa, if Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon continue. On Tuesday, Hezbollah stated that “Haifa and other locations will be targeted by our rockets,” following a barrage of 85 projectiles fired at northern Israel, including the port city.
Adding to the complexity, Iran, Hezbollah’s key supporter, warned Gulf states against allowing their airspace to be used for Israeli attacks on Iran. A senior Iranian official warned of retaliation if any Gulf state facilitated Israeli operations.
On the diplomatic front, Israel’s relations with the United Nations and the Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA have also come under strain. UN Secretary-General António Guterres raised concerns about Israeli legislation that could obstruct UNRWA’s work in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, warning of a potential humanitarian “catastrophe.”
As tensions rise across the region, Israel’s deputy foreign ministry spokesperson, Alex Gandler, highlighted the country’s strong relationship with India, calling it an “important partner” and a “voice of reason” in the region. India has remained neutral in the Israel-Iran conflict, offering a potential role as a mediator.
The escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, compounded by regional tensions involving Iran and international concerns about humanitarian consequences, continues to push the Middle East toward further instability.