Israel fears “intense war” if Hezbollah violates ceasefire – DW – 11/29/2024

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened this Thursday (11/28/2024) if pro-Iranian groups violate the terms of a massive ceasefire in Lebanon, less than 48 hours after it began. Will return fire in open war against Hezbollah

“If there is a major violation of the agreement, we will not only act surgically, as we are doing now,” Netanyahu said in an interview with the far-right Channel 14. “If there is any major violation of the agreement, I have ordered the armed forces to be prepared for an intense war.”

In the interview, Netanyahu stressed that the ceasefire in Lebanon “could be brief” and that Israel “implemented it on the first day”, according to statements reported by the Times of Israel newspaper.

The agreement states that “these commitments do not prevent Israel or Lebanon from exercising their inherent right of self-defense in accordance with international law.”

Netanyahu had already said when announcing the agreement on Tuesday night, November 26, that Israel would “maintain full freedom of military action” in Lebanon “with the full understanding of the United States.” Lebanese officials said they oppose any violation of their sovereignty.

“The inhabitants of the North will return in stages when they feel that what I say is true,” the president predicted, according to the Israeli press, of the 60,000 displaced people from the north, many of them its inhabitants. There are critics of the end. war.

pressure on israel

The ceasefire’s second day was marred by disagreements between the parties over Israel’s right to attack Hezbollah if it believes the militants have violated the agreement, which Netanyahu describes as a condition, but the Lebanese and Hezbollah The authorities deny this.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati urged in a call with French President Emmanuel Macron this Thursday that the international community increase pressure on Israel, noting that it has violated the agreement after carrying out airstrikes and various weapons attacks against Lebanon. Have violated. area.

For its part, the Israeli military today accused Hezbollah of breaking the terms of the agreement and confirmed it attacked two alleged terrorists inside a building, in addition to other airstrikes against weapons that were used “against Israel last month.” Dozens of projectiles were to be fired”. Southern Lebanon.

The agreement, brokered by the United States and France, includes an initial two-month ceasefire, during which Hezbollah would withdraw north of the Litani River and Israeli forces would leave Lebanon, making way for Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers on the border. Will become.

MG (EFE, AFP)