Israel steps up Lebanon strikes as Netanyahu escalates offensive

The Israeli army intensified its strikes in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley on Monday, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordering a significant escalation of the offensive against Hezbollah. Netanyahu vowed to "crush" the Iran-backed group, despite a ceasefire that took effect in April.

"I have ordered an even greater acceleration of our operations," Netanyahu stated in a video message on his Telegram channel. "We will intensify our blows, increase our firepower, and we will crush them." He acknowledged Hezbollah's drone attacks but expressed confidence in developing countermeasures. The airstrikes come as the United States and Iran are reportedly working to finalize terms for an agreement to end the broader Middle East conflict, which could involve the Lebanese front where conflict has persisted since March 2.

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I have ordered an even greater acceleration of our operations. It is true that they are attacking us with drones, including fibre-optic drones, but we have teams working on countermeasures and we will solve this issue ... We will intensify our blows, increase our firepower, and we will crush them.

Following Netanyahu's call for escalation, an AFP correspondent observed residents fleeing the southern suburbs of Beirut, a known Hezbollah stronghold. Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported that dozens of Israeli strikes in the early hours of Monday targeted several towns and villages in southern Lebanon, killing at least three people in two cars and on a motorcycle. Further Israeli airstrikes hit towns near the ancient city of Tyre later in the evening.

The escalation followed Israel's issuance of evacuation orders for 10 villages, with the military accusing Hezbollah of breaching the truce. Colonel Avichay Adraee, the Israeli military's Arabic-language spokesman, stated that "In light of Hezbollah's violation of the ceasefire agreement, the Israel Defense Forces are compelled to operate against it with force." Hezbollah has continued to launch drone attacks against Israeli forces regularly. Lebanese authorities report that Israeli strikes since early March have killed over 3,100 people.

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In light of Hezbollah's violation of the ceasefire agreement, the Israel Defense Forces are compelled to operate against it with force.