Hezbollah conducts cross-border raids, Israel warns of regional war 0
(Dan Tri) – Israel’s Foreign Minister warned that the Middle East could fall into a full-scale war if Hezbollah fighters are still present in southern Lebanon.
Israeli soldiers on armored vehicles (Photo: EPA).
Israel’s Channel 12 reported that Secretary of State Cohen conveyed his warning to the United Nations Security Council, urging it to implement Resolution 1701, ending the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
Secretary of State Cohen predicted that the failure of the United Nations peacekeeping force to fully implement measures could lead to a regional war.
`In the interest of regional stability and preventing further escalation, the next United Nations Security Council discussion must adopt a radically different approach to ending dangerous violations of
Channel 12 said the Israeli diplomat issued the warning after weeks of shelling and fighting on the Israel-Lebanon border.
Location of Lebanon and Israel (Photo: BBC).
Hezbollah claims it has joined fighters in Gaza in the fight against Israel, but has so far not launched a major attack from Lebanon.
Earlier this month, Times of Israel quoted Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant as warning Hezbollah that they were `about to make a serious mistake.`
The above statement repeats threats previously made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Earlier this month, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah announced in a televised speech that the movement was trying to help Hamas win victory against the `attacker`.
Mr. Nasrallah further claimed that Hezbollah fighters had joined the war and were tying up significant Israeli forces in the north of the country.
Nasrallah also warned Israel’s leadership that they would make the `biggest mistake of their lives` if they attacked Lebanon.
Tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border have so far mainly taken the form of rocket, mortar and small arms launches by Hezbollah, while the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have responded with artillery attacks
According to the Israeli military, they have killed more than 70 Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon since October 7.
The US also expressed concern about a second front on the Israel-Lebanon border, if Hezbollah forces join the war.
