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Israel says close to launch military action in Lebanon amid tension

August 30, 2023 at 3:18 pm

A boy raises a Lebanon flag as the United Nations Interim Peace Forces (UNIFIL) stand guard holding the flag of the United Nations by the border at the Kafr Shuba region, considered a disputed area between Lebanon and Israel, in the town of Kafr Shuba in Nabatieh Governorate, Lebanon on August 28, 2023 [Houssam Shbaro – Anadolu Agency]

Israel is close to carry out a military campaign against Lebanon, the country’s permanent delegate to the United Nations warned Wednesday, Anadolu Agency reports.

Israel is “the nearest to launching military action in Lebanon since the 2006 [war],” Gilad Erdan told Army Radio, citing what he called Hezbollah escalation along the border.

The Israeli delegate said Tel Aviv will not be able to tolerate what he described as Hezbollah’s rising violations against Israel.

On Tuesday, Israeli Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, sent a letter to UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, warning of “violent escalation” along the Israeli-Lebanese border.

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Israel “will not tolerate increasing threats to the security of its citizens, and will act as required in their defence,” Gallant warned.

There was no comment from Lebanese authorities or Hezbollah on the Israeli accusations.

The Israeli-Lebanese border has witnessed tension in recent months amid mutual accusations of violating and crossing the borderline.

In June, Hezbollah set up tents in Shebaa Farms and the Kfar Shouba hills close to the border. Lebanon insists that the Shebaa Farms area, which has been under Israeli occupation since 1967, is Lebanese territory.

In 2006, Israel and Hezbollah fought a 34-day war in which more than 1,200 Lebanese – mostly civilians – were killed. Some 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers, were killed in the same conflict.

READ: Israel warns of ‘violent escalation’ on Lebanon border