Netanyahu calls on Lebanese to 'stand up' to Hezbollah in exchange for peace
Israel's Prime Minister has offered peace to the people of Lebanon but only if they rise up and join Israeli forces in fighting Hezbollah, as ITV News' John Ray reports
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on the Lebanese people to "stand up" to Hezbollah in order to avoid a war like that in Gaza.
In an address to the people of Lebanon, he offered peace but only if they "free" their country from Hezbollah.
He said: "You have an opportunity that hasn't existed in decades. An opportunity to take care of the future of your children and grandchildren.
"You have an opportunity to save Lebanon before it falls into the abyss of a long war that will lead to destruction and suffering like we see in Gaza."
"Free your country from Hezbollah, so that your country could prosper again, so that future generations of Lebanese and Israeli children will know neither war nor bloodshed, but will finally live together in peace," he continued.
It comes as Israel said on Tuesday that it was expanding its operations into Lebanon and has killed senior Hezbollah commander Suhail Hussein Husseini.
A ground incursion from Israel into Lebanon began last week focusing on the eastern part of the border, but the Israel Defence Force (IDF) has since started "limited, localised, and targeted operations" in southwest Lebanon.
The announcement comes a day after the Israeli military warned residents to evacuate from a dozen towns and villages in that region - including the coastal town of Naqoura, where United Nations peacekeepers are headquartered.
Concern has been raised about a group of Irish peacekeepers serving under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) in the Blue Line demarcation between southern Lebanon and Israel.
Israeli forces have recently crossed the line and are believed to be operating close to where the Irish troops are based. The Irish Defence Forces said that all 347 Irish troops are accounted for and well.
Unfil said the proximity of IDF forces to an outpost operated by the Irish forces was "concerning."
President Michael D Higgins said it was "outrageous" that the peacekeepers were being "threatened" and fiercely rejected what he said was an Israeli request for all Unfil forces to withdraw.
Israeli operations have been aimed at halting Hezbollah rockets, while the militant group, in turn, has vowed to continue its own attacks until there is a ceasefire in Gaza.
Israeli officials said on Tuesday morning that Husseini had been killed in a strike on Beirut. It is unclear when this exactly happened and Hezbollah has yet to confirm the report.
Husseini is understood to have been responsible for overseeing logistics, budgets and management of the militant group, according to the IDF.
The assassination comes a day after the anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks.
Hezbollah's acting leader said that more Israelis will be displaced as the militant group extends its rocket fire deeper into Israel.
In a televised statement marking the anniversary of fighting that escalated last month, Sheikh Naim Kassem said the militant group's military capabilities are still intact.
He also said that all of its senior commanders have been replaced after many had been killed in a matter of days following heavy Israeli bombardment of Lebanon.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Monday the country will "continue to fight" as its military presses on battling Iran-backed militant groups on several fronts.
The Israeli military has outlined its goals as the destruction of Hamas and the return of the remaining hostages from Gaza. Neither of which has been achieved a year into the war.
As tensions in the Middle East ramped up, Yoel Guzansky, a former senior staffer at Israel’s National Security Council, called for the US to join Israel in direct attacks in Iran.
That would send "the right message to the Iranians - ‘Don’t mess with us,’" Guzansky said.
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