Gantz threatens to launch destructive offensive on Lebanon

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz has threatened to launch a more destructive and complicated offensive against Lebanon than that carried out on Gaza, Rai Al-Youm news site reported yesterday.

During a press conference, Gantz replied to a question about the possibility of a future war with Lebanon, saying: “What we saw in Gaza will be ten times as high in Lebanon.”

He added: “It will be a complicated war because Hezbollah is hiding 100,000 rockets, some of which are accurate and long-range, and all of this is among the civilian population.”

Gantz said that Israel has been gathering “great intelligence” since 2006 and it has “a variety of plans and targets” in Lebanon ready for any future offensive.

“If we start working, the state of Lebanon will bear responsibility, and Hezbollah and its leaders will suffer great harm,” Gantz said.

READ: Netanyahu is losing hope for a victorious end to his Gaza offensive

His remarks came days after he said: “If an attack comes from the north, Lebanon will tremble… the houses in which weapons and terrorist operatives are being hidden will become rubble.”

“Our list of targets for Lebanon is bigger and more significant than the one for Gaza, and the bill is ready to be settled if necessary.”

On 21 May Israel agreed to a truce which brought to an end its brutal 11-day air strikes offensive against the besieged Gaza Strip. More than 250 Palestinians were killed in the attack, including more than 65 children and 40 women. Mosques, schools, medical centres and international media organisations were all hit during the military campaign.