Israeli ministers have significantly intensified their rhetoric against Lebanon, calling for expanded military action including strikes on Beirut, territorial occupation, and strict measures against Lebanese civilians in response to ongoing Hezbollah drone attacks.
During a Security Cabinet meeting held on Monday evening, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir advocated a more aggressive approach toward Hezbollah. He suggested that Israel should consider occupying parts of Lebanese territory and increasing military pressure through large-scale operations against militants.
He further controversially proposed detaining women and children linked to Hezbollah members, arguing that such measures would exert maximum psychological pressure on the group.
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Hezbollah of attempting to drag Israel into a prolonged “war of attrition,” warning that continued escalation could further destabilise the region.
Several other cabinet members echoed similarly hardline positions. Minister for the Development of the Periphery, the Negev and the Galilee, Yitzhak Wasserlauf, stated that Israel required additional military resources to sustain ongoing operations. Settlement Affairs Minister Orit Strock also supported the idea of extending Israeli control into Lebanese territory.
Minister of Culture and Sports Miki Zohar called for intensified airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, stating that Israel would respond decisively to any further attacks. He warned that any continued aggression from Hezbollah or Iran would be met with a strong military response.
Defence Minister Israel Katz also issued a stern warning, saying that the fate of Beirut’s southern districts would mirror that of northern Israeli towns if hostilities continued. He reaffirmed that any attempt by Iran or Hezbollah to target Israel would be met with overwhelming force.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in southern Lebanon continues to deteriorate amid ongoing strikes. In the city of Tyre, large parts of the Christian quarter were evacuated after Israeli authorities issued an unprecedented evacuation order covering the entire city.
Residents fled their homes as airstrikes struck the area, killing at least eight people, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. Emergency responders are continuing search and rescue operations as debris is cleared from affected sites.
Local residents described scenes of panic and mass displacement, with many families forced to abandon their homes and seek safety elsewhere.
The Israeli military claimed that Hezbollah operatives were present in the targeted areas, although no evidence was provided to support these assertions.
The latest escalation follows a series of cross-border exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah, raising concerns of a wider regional conflict as tensions continue to rise sharply.
