Netanyahu orders decisive strike on Hezbollah in Lebanon
Photo: Israeli army (Getty Images)
The Israeli army has been ordered to carry out powerful strikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. This threatens the already fragile ceasefire that was just extended by three weeks, reports the Reuters news agency.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the military to forcefully suppress any militant activity.
The prime minister’s office said in a statement that the military had been ordered to forcefully attack Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.
Additional details about the scale of the operation have not yet been disclosed. This came after militants fired two rockets at northern Israel. One of them was intercepted. There were no Israeli casualties.
Elite Radwan units under fire
The agency notes that overnight, Israeli aircraft attacked rocket launchers at three locations in southern Lebanon. Individual militant groups were also targeted.
Later, the military struck facilities of the elite Radwan unit — Hezbollah's special forces, considered the most combat-ready.
The military again warned Lebanese residents that they are forbidden from approaching the Litani River area, where active combat clashes are ongoing.
What is known about the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire
Hezbollah has already stated that the US-brokered extension of the ceasefire in the war with Israel is meaningless. Hezbollah is not a party to the ceasefire agreement and firmly opposes direct contacts between Lebanon and Israel.
Israel's ambassador to the UN also acknowledged that the new ceasefire with Lebanon could fall apart. He expressed doubt that the Lebanese government is capable of ensuring compliance with the ceasefire regime in the south of the country, where Iran-backed Hezbollah operates.
