Israeli PM says Hezbollah will flip Beirut, southern Lebanon into Gaza and Khan Younis if Iran-backed group’s assaults on Israel proceed.
Israel has stated {that a} guided missile assault from Lebanon killed an Israeli civilian within the north of the nation, prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to warn that Beirut can be turned “into Gaza” if Hezbollah began an all-out struggle.
The Israeli navy stated on Thursday that fighters from the Lebanese Shia group carried out an antitank assault in northern Israel.
Hezbollah, which helps the Palestinian group Hamas, stated one of many 11 assaults it carried out on Thursday focused an Israeli barracks in Mattat, a village abutting the Lebanese border.
The Israeli military stated its jets struck a Hezbollah command and management centre in response to the Iranian-backed group’s assault.
“If Hezbollah chooses to start out an all-out struggle then it’s going to, by its personal hand, flip Beirut and southern Lebanon, not removed from right here, into Gaza and Khan Younis,” Netanyahu stated whereas visiting troops close to the border.
It was not instantly clear if Netanyahu’s remark was linked to the latest Hezbollah strike.
‘Farmer killed’
Israel’s public broadcaster Kan stated the person killed was a farmer and the nation’s ambulance service stated he was 60 years previous.
Hezbollah stated Thursday’s assault was in help of Palestinians in Gaza.
The Israel-Palestinian conflict began on October 7 after a lethal assault by Hamas into southern Israel was adopted by Israel’s huge air and floor offensive on the Gaza Strip.
Since then, Israel and armed teams in southern Lebanon – some 200km (124 miles) from the Gaza Strip, significantly Hezbollah, have engaged in frequent forwards and backwards exchanges throughout the United Nations-patrolled Israel-Lebanon border.
Greater than 17,100 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 7, based on the authorities within the enclave.
Israel says its demise toll stands at about 1,150.