Israel has issued a stern warning, cautioning that any potential conflict with Hezbollah could lead Lebanon to regress “to the stone age.” The Israeli Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, conveyed this message on Tuesday, following weeks of recurrent clashes with Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group, along the border shared by the two nations.
In a video address to The Times of Israel, Minister Gallant emphasized Israel’s desire to avert war, yet firmly asserted their readiness to safeguard their citizens, soldiers, and sovereignty. Gallant directed a message to Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, cautioning against repeating past mistakes that incurred heavy costs. He asserted that should an escalation occur, it could result in Lebanon’s infrastructure and development being significantly affected.
While visiting the border region, Gallant made it clear that Israel would not hesitate to employ its capabilities to weaken Hezbollah’s presence and impact on Lebanon if the need arose. Despite these statements, Hezbollah has not yet responded officially to Israel’s warning.
Similar rhetoric has been exchanged between the two sides since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah conflict, although the rhetoric has grown more pointed since a roadside bombing in Israel during March, attributed to a Hezbollah operative.
Recent weeks have witnessed confrontations involving Lebanese civilians, Hezbollah operatives, and Israeli forces along the fortified border. Israel’s cabinet discussed these escalating tensions in a recent meeting, with military officials emphasizing the challenge of gauging the implications of limited confrontations in the current delicate context. Distinguishing between Hezbollah’s intentions and provocations along the border fence emerged as a priority.
Accusations have arisen from Israel, alleging increased provocations by Hezbollah, including the setup of tents in a disputed border region and renewed tensions surrounding the divided border town of Ghajar.
Since 1978, peacekeepers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) have been monitoring the border between Israel and Lebanon. Officially, the two nations remain in a state of war. The last major conflict between them occurred in 2006, with subsequent tensions continually simmering along the shared border.
