Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced an acceleration of military operations against Hezbollah, saying over 600 militants have been eliminated in recent weeks.
10:36 PM
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Monday that Israel will intensify its military offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon, ordering an acceleration of operations against the Shiite militant group.
In a video statement posted to his Telegram channel, Netanyahu said he had instructed the military to "press the pedal even harder" in its campaign. "We are at war with Hezbollah," he stated. "I have instructed them to press the pedal even harder. We will strike them. We will strike them decisively."
Netanyahu said Israel's military offensive had "eliminated over 600 terrorists" in recent weeks. He characterized the intensified campaign as a response to drone attacks launched by Hezbollah against Israeli territory, noting that the group has deployed cyber-enabled drones in its strikes.
Following Netanyahu's announcement, the Israeli Defense Forces said it had launched a wave of strikes across Lebanon. The IDF reported conducting strikes against Hezbollah sites in the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon as well as additional areas throughout the country. Israeli military operations included strikes on the southern Lebanese city of Tyre.
The announcement comes despite a ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel that has been in effect since April 17. Earlier this month, the two countries agreed to extend the 45-day ceasefire, though some fighting has continued during the truce period.
Netanyahu's statement emphasized that Israel would not reduce its military pressure on Hezbollah. He acknowledged that the group continues to attack Israeli territory and said Israel has a dedicated team addressing the drone threat, while maintaining that the primary response would be intensified military strikes.
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