After the start of the Israeli invasion of Gaza in October last year, Hezbollah and the Israeli army have been involved in a conflict on the Lebanese border. 15 Israeli soldiers and 10 civilians have been killed in this conflict. And 343 Hezbollah members lost their lives in the Israeli attack.
Amidst this ongoing tension, Hezbollah threatened to attack Israel’s third largest city, Haifa, on Tuesday (June 18). They even fly a surveillance drone. Tel Aviv immediately declared an all-out war in Lebanon to “destroy” Hezbollah. This was approved by IDF Northern Command Major General Ori Gordin and Operations Directorate Major General Oded Basiuk.
The Israeli Defense Forces said that they will not tolerate the presence of Hezbollah on their border after the Hamas attack on Israeli territory on October 7.
In response to Israel’s threat, Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah said in a televised address on Wednesday (June 19), “No place in Israel will be safe if the war starts.” Attacks can happen anywhere.
“Cyprus is helping them,” he added. They allow Israel to use their airports and various bases. So they will not be spared from the attack.
In a press conference on Friday (June 21) expressing concern about this counter-threat, the UN Secretary General said,
Both sides are threatening each other, increasing the risk of an all-out war. He also said that UN peacekeepers are working to keep the situation calm.
Guterres said:
A rash move, a misunderstanding can bring fatal disaster; which may spread far beyond borders. Frankly, beyond our imagination. So let’s be clear, the people of this region and the people of the whole world cannot afford to let Lebanon become another Gaza.
The UN peacekeeping force United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and an unarmed tactical observer group known as UNTSO have long been stationed in southern Lebanon to monitor the tense situation along the border between Lebanon and Israel, known as the ‘Blue Line’.
UN peacekeepers are working on the ground to de-escalate tensions, Guterres said, adding, “The world must say loud and clear: rapid de-escalation measures are imperative.” There is no military solution there.
THE NAIS IS OFFICIAL EDITOR ON NAIS NEWS