Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned Lebanon that Israel would occupy the area and act on its own if the country did not stop Hezbollah’s attacks. He told the Times of Israel on Thursday that the IDF would respond decisively – it had already reacted strongly to Hezbollah’s heavy assault on Israel the previous day – and that both Katz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had instructed the forces to prepare for an escalation of operations in Lebanon. Earlier coverage by the Jerusalem Post noted that the army rejects a full invasion of Lebanon, arguing that the conflict with Iran must first be de‑escalated.
Politics
