Netanyahu: Israel “will turn Beirut and Lebanon into Gaza” if Hezbollah goes to “total war”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned today that if the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah “decides to start an all-out war,” Israel will make “Beirut and southern Lebanon” look like “Gaza and Khan Younis.”

Accompanied by the Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallant, and the Chief of the Army Staff, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, Netanyahu visited the border area with Lebanon, where there continues to be crossfire between Israel and militias in Lebanese territory, which was settled this afternoon. with the death of a 60-year-old Israeli civilian due to the impact of an anti-tank missile.

This same afternoon Hezbollah assured in a statement that its members attacked Israeli territory, in a dynamic of exchange of fire that has been taking place since almost the outbreak of the war between Israel and Hamas, on October 7, which caused a peak of tension and the opening of another front on the border with Lebanon.

“If Hezbollah decides to start an all-out war, then it will single-handedly turn Beirut and southern Lebanon, not far from here, into Gaza and Khan Younis.”Netanyahu declared this Thursday, in an evaluation of the situation in the northern command, his office reported in a statement.

Netanyahu added that Israel’s will is to “restore security” on the northern border with Lebanon, and urged Israel’s enemies “to pay attention.”

This Thursday, Israel also bombed Lebanese territory from the ground and air after launching several projectiles from Lebanon that they attributed to Hezbollah, within the framework of the hostilities that have been in force for almost two months.

This is the biggest spike in tension since the 2006 war between Israel and the Shiite group. So far, some 123 deaths have been recorded: 11 in Israel – seven soldiers and four civilians – and at least 112 in Lebanon, including 81 members of Hezbollah, 12 members of Palestinian militias, two soldiers and 17 civilians – including three journalists and three children-.

Israel has evacuated more than 60,000 people from northern communities, while violence has forced the displacement of about 55,000 in Lebanon.

The Israeli Defense Minister said Wednesday that Israel will take measures against Hezbollah in Lebanon when it slows down its offensive in Gaza to move it away from the border and avoid close-range attacks like those that have been taking place.